Class
Order
Family
Genus
Classification
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Microtis oligantha L.B.Moore, New Zealand J. Bot. 6: 473 (1969)
Vernacular Name(s):
Small onion orchid
Description
Plant at fl. mostly c. 3–15 cm. tall, occ. to 25 cm or more. Stem erect, fleshy. Lf overtopping raceme if undamaged but very commonly cropped short. Raceme rarely > 3 cm. long; fls 1–10, often widely spaced, especially on taller plants. Per. green. Dorsal sepal c. 2.5 mm. long, its margin evenly rounded and lacking recurved tip; lateral shorter, ± acute, deflexed, us. straight. Petals ± under dorsal sepal. Labellum oblong, only rarely narrowed at mid-length; tip us. squarely truncate, sts slightly emarginate, not apiculate; margin papillose, shallowly crenate, sts thickened but rarely undulate; anterior callus variously developed, verrucose; large basal calli squarish, flat rather than convex, us. continuous at the sides with narrow band of callus behind slit-like transverse furrow; labellum rather sharply deflexed to hang ± parallel to ovary. Base of column often broader than stigma.
[From: Moore and Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 2.]
Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
Phenology
Flowering: Jan.–Feb.
Bibliography
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]
Moore, L.B. 1968: Taxonomic notes on New Zealand Monocotyledons. New Zealand Journal of Botany 6: 473–492.
Parsons, M.J.; Douglass, P.; Macmillan, B.H. 1998: Current Names List for wild Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons (except Grasses) of New Zealand as used in Herbarium CHR. Version 1, to 31 Dec 1995. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand.
