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NZ Native Orchids – A hidden charm
There are over 100 New Zealand native orchid species and a significant number of these are rare, and some are endangered. The rarest is the almost-black helmet orchid (Anzybas carsei), which holds onto a precarious existence in a single Waikato swamp. The flowers of sun orchids (Thelymitra species) are unusual due to their petals and sepals being the same.
New Zealand's native orchids are mostly terrestrial, small and easily overlooked. But they possess a hidden beauty, which is why orchid-lovers carry a magnifying glass with them on trips into the bush.
The tiny Ichthyostomun pygmaeum has a 3-millimetre diameter. Why are New Zealand orchids so small? One theory is that there are few large insect pollinators to attract, so there is no point in being flashy like their exotic cousins. This may also be why over half of New Zealand orchids can self-pollinate, a highly unusual ability in the orchid world. |
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.jpg "Gastrodia aff sesamoides - Potato Orchid (Perei)")
Gastrodia aff. sesamoides - Potato Orchid ( Perei ). Photo: Ian St George
Read about the Maori Legend
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H.B. Matthews to Auckland Museum Director, Thomas Cheeseman
Audio Clip (1:57)
Listen to extracts of letters by amateur orchid hunter H.B. Matthews in the early 20th century .
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