Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asparagales Link
Family
Orchidaceae Juss.
Genus
Thelymitra J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Thelymitra pauciflora R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. 314 (1810)
Synonymy:
  • = Thelymitra cornuta Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 20: 206 (1887 [1888])
  • = Thelymitra brevifolia Jeanes, Muelleria 19: 30 (2004)
 Description

Plant at fl. c. 5–40 cm. tall. Lf c. 10–15 mm. wide, channelled, fleshy, keeled, us. without longitudinal ribs. Infl. us. slender, capsules often maturing without per. having opened; fls to c. 10, us. fewer. Per. c. 8–12 mm. long, us. lilac-pink, without stripes or spots. Sepals, petals and labellum similar, elliptic, subacute. Column-arms terete, us. ± erect; cilia white, rather sparse and straight, mostly projecting above post-anther lobe; post-anther lobe overtopping anther, dark above middle and us. yellow on margin which is so turned in as to appear deeply cleft or bifid, the 2 halves rounded and meeting along mid line above anther.

[From: Moore and Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 2.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Nov.–Dec.

 Bibliography
Brown, R. 1810: Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen. Johnson, London.
Colenso, W. 1888: On new Phænogamic plants of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 20: 188–211.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Hatch, E.D. 1952: The New Zealand Forms of Thelymitra J. R. and G. Forster and Appendices. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 79: 386–402.
Jeanes, J.A. 2004: A revision of the Thelymitra pauciflora R.Br. (Orchidaceae) complex in Australia. Muelleria 19: 19–79.
Rolfe, J.R.; de Lange, P.J. 2010: Illustrated guide to New Zealand sun orchids, Thelymitra (Orchidaceae). [as Thelymitra brevifolia Jeanes]
Scanlen, E.; St. George, I. 2011: Colour Field Guide to the Native Orchids of New Zealand. Edition 3. New Zealand Native Orchid Group. [as Thelymitra brevifolia Jeanes]