Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asparagales Link
Family
Orchidaceae Juss.
Genus
Microtis R.Br.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Microtis unifolia (G.Forst.) Rchb.f. (1871)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Ophrys unifolia G.Forst., Fl. Ins. Austr. 59 (1786)
  • = Epipactis porrifolia Sw. (1800) nom. illeg.
  • ≡ Microtis porrifolia (Sw.) R.Br. ex Spreng. in Sprengel, Syst. Veg., ed. 16 [Sprengel] 3, 713 (1826)
  • = Microtis banksii A.Cunn., Curtis's Botanical Magazine (1835)
  • = Microtis frutetorum Schltdl. (1847)
  • = Microtis viridis F.Muell. (1866) nom. illeg.
  • = Microtis longifolia Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 17: 247 (1884 [1885])
  • = Microtis papillosa Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 18: 269 (1885 [1886])
Vernacular Name(s):
Common onion orchid; Māikaika; Microtis; Onion orchid
 Description

Plant at fl.10–100 cm. tall. Stem erect, ± fleshy. Lf often overtopping raceme. Raceme occ. to 30 × 1 cm., us. smaller; fls few to ∞, us. almost touching throughout. Per. green. Dorsal sepal c. 3 mm. long, tip acute and us. slightly turned upwards; laterals shorter, acute, deflexed, tips sts tending to coil under. Petals ± under dorsal sepal. Labellum oblong, often narrowest about mid-length; tip truncate to emarginate, not apiculate though sts folded to appear so; margin papillose and us. also crenate and undulate; anterior callus variously developed, verrucose, often raised on a rounded ridge; large basal calli oval, prominent, us. continuous at sides with narrow band of callus behind transverse furrow which is slit-like, not pouched; labellum standing away from ovary at very narrow angle. Base of column about as broad as stigma; wings us. membr. throughout.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Oct.–Feb.

 Bibliography
Colenso, W. 1885 ("1884"): A description of some newly-discovered and rare indigenous plants; being a further contribution towards the making known the botany of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 17: 237–265.
Colenso, W. 1886 ("1885"): A description of some newly-discovered and rare indigenous plants: being a further contribution towards the making known the botany of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 18: 256–287.
Curtis's Botanical Magazine. Lovell Reeve, London.
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]
Forster, J.G.A. 1786: Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus. Dietrich, Göttingen.
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.
Sprengel, C.P.J. 1826: Systema vegetabilium [Caroli Linnaei ... ]. Editio decima sexta. Vol. 3. Göttingen.