13. Pterostylis trullifolia Hook. f., Fl. Nov. Zel., 1, 1853, 249.

A compound species of 3 closely related jordanons. The original description gives no indication as to which of the forms was the specific type. The species in one form or another has been recorded from the Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 10. Much field work is yet needed to ascertain which jordanon occurs in which area. The districts and localities given under the descriptions are only those who have been confirmed by the writer.

(a) Pt. trullifolia var. rubella (Col.) Hatch comb. nov.

Pt. rubella Col., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 18, 1886, 271.

Up to 20 cm. high. Leaves 1–8, basal-petiolate or cauline-sessile, heterophyllous, ranging from ovate-orbicular through linear-lanceolate to bracteate. Floral bract narrow-linear, acute. Flower solitary or rarely 2, up to 3 cm. high. Dorsal sepal acuminate, as long as or longer than the petals, the tip incurved. Petals strongly incurved, horizontal to the dorsal sepal, producing a conspicuous “cobra-hood” effect. Lateral sepals with an emarginate central lobe, the filiform caudae much exceeding the galea. Labellum gradually narrowed to a rounded point. Appendage trifid, slender and much incurved. Column erect, stigma elliptical. Column-wings with the upper lobes subulate, higher than the anther. Lower lobes oblong, obtuse, with finely ciliate, inrolled margins.

Distribution. Endemic—2, not uncommon; 3a, abundant throughout; 4, Lake Tutira, H. Guthrie Smith; 7, Hutt Valley, 6, 1946, J. A. Healy; Foxton, 6, 1945, Wgtn. Bot. Soc.

Probably derived from an early form of Pt. obtusa and windborne originally across the Tasman.

(b) Pt. trullifolia var. gracilis Cheesmn., Trans. N.Z.I., 47, 1914, 46.

Similar to var. rubella, more slender, often taller. Petiolate leaves with the reticulated veining conspicuously embossed. Basal rosette more inclined to persist with maturity. Flowers much smaller, the petal tips frequently crossed or divergent.

Distribution. Endemic—2, 3a, b, c, common throughout; 5, Rotorua, 7, 1934, K. W. Allison.

Probably derived from var. rubella.

(c) Pt. trullifolia var. alobula Hatch var. nov.

Pt. trullifolia rubella affinis, subsimilis. Differentis in sinus sepalium lateralium acutus, nulla loba.

Habit and size of var. rubella. Flower darker green, rather erect. Sinus of the lateral sepals acute, without a central lobe. Labellum narrower, with a slightly swollen, truncate or even crenulate tip. Probably derived from Pt. obtusa.

Distribution. Endemic—2, 3a, abundant throughout.

The species as a whole flowers from April-September, sea-level–1,000 ft. Large colonies in scrub, open mossy places or forest. Hybrids between gracilis and alobula are frequent in areas where they overlap.

Holotype in Herb. Hatch, Laingholm, 7, 1945, E. D. Hatch, No. 566. The accompanying illustration can be regarded as the hypotype of the variety.

Development. The juvenile rosette develops into the bracteate mature form over about 3 seasons. The degree of development depends entirely upon the size of the tuber. When a plant by the removal of leaves or other mutilation is not able to develop a normal-sized tuber, the following season finds it producing a form more juvenile than that which preceded it. The vegetative form is worth remarking. It consists of a pseudobulb at the surface, bearing 2 orbicular leaves on very long petioles, and 3–5 very long roots with terminal tubers.

14. Pterostylis venosa Col., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 28, 1896, 610.

Up to 7 cm. high. Leaves 1–3, sessile, elliptic-lanceolate to oblongovate or almost orbicular, obtuse or acute, up to 6 cm. long by 3 cm. broad. Floral bract foliaceous, acute. Flower solitary, up to 15mm. high. Dorsal sepal acuminate, slightly longer than the petals. Lateral sepals shortly caudate, the tips often recurved. Labellum recurved, gradually narrowed into a blunt point, or the upper half abruptly constricted into a long subulate tip. Column short, the stigma linearlanceolate. Column-wings with acuminate upper lobes as high as the anther. Lower lobes broadly oblong, obtuse.

The subrosulate habit is little changed with maturity, the lengthening of the stem taking place mainly above the floral bract.

Distribution. Endemic—7, not uncommon throughout the Tararua and Ruahine Ranges; 8, Endeavour Inlet, J. H. MacMahon; 10, montane areas in the vicinity of Westport, W. Townson; 11, not uncommon in the vicinity of Arthur's Pass, 1, 1931, L. M. Cranwell.

Flowers December–January, 2,000–4,000 ft., colonies in tussock or scrub, along forest margins or alpine herb field. The Arthur's Pass form differs somewhat from that found in the North Island and on Mount Frederick. It will probably be found that 2 jordanons exist within the present conception of the species. Probably derived from Pt. trullifolia alobula, although specimens collected recently from Mount Egmont suggest affinities with Pt. foliata Hook. f. also.

Holotype in the Dominion Museum, Wellington, east side of the Ruahine Ranges, 1, 1894, A. Olsen.

15. Pterostylis humilis Rog., Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Austr., 46, 1922, 151.

Hatch, Trans. R.S.N.Z., 75, 1945, 369.

Pt. confertifolia Allan, Trans. N.Z. Inst., 56, 1925, 32.

Up to 10 cm. high. Leaves 1–6, sessile or petiolate, rosulate, oblong-ovate, obtuse, up to 9 cm. long by 2 cm. broad, glaucous above, silvery beneath, turning a bright yellow in the autumn. Floral bract foliaceous, frequently larger than the leaves, oblong acute. Flower solitary, rather broad, up to 18 mm. high, translucent with thin green striae. Dorsal sepal erect, longer than the petals, the acuminate tip horizontal. Lateral sepals erect with a very wide sinus, the lobes inrolled and hardly exceeding the galea. Labellum linear-oblong, reddish-brown, recurved, the tip constricted. Column erect, free from the dorsal sepal. Stigma very large, globose, protruding on either side of the column and forward beyond the vertical line or the anther. Column wings with 2 upper lobes, the anterior small, acute, the posterior larger, rounded. Lower lobes rather long, narrow-acute, incurved.