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Home , Acianthus, Acianthus sinclairii, Adenochilus, Aporostylis, Caladenia alata, Caleana minor

NZ Orchid Key: a new smartphone app for identifying native orchids Murray Dawson1, Jeremy Rolfe, Michael Pratt and Ian St George

Smartphones have rapidly become the device of choice for New Zealanders and the rest of the world. Their processing power, storage capacity, and portability have come of age, making it possible to run comprehensive productivity apps including identification tools. Uptake of this technology will continue to increase into the foreseeable future. It is timely then that a powerful app for identifying native orchids is now available for smartphones and tablets from the Android Google Play Store and Apple’s iTunes (Fig. 1A–E)2.

E Fig. 1 Screenshots of the NZ Orchid Key C app. A, icon, illustrating the mauve sun orchid ( malvina). B, start-up screen. C, feature (character) list. D, entity () list. E, part of a built-in species profile. This free app, called the NZ Orchid Key, is easy-to-use, has lots of A colourful photographs, and covers a wide array of characters3, including , flowers, habitats, and distribution for identifying native orchids. Users choose whichever characters in the app match the orchid specimen they are identifying through a process of elimination. If a user needs help to understand what a particular character state means, they can bring up an explanation page for it. Each species within the app is supported by a descriptive profile, providing all the information needed to verify the identification. Species D profiles include links out to online B resources on native orchids – the

1 Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, Canterbury, ; [email protected] 2 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lucidcentral.mobile.nz_orchid and https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nz-orchid-key/ id1063192594?mt=8 3 In total, 43 characters and 212 character states were chosen for identifying native orchids in the key. An example of a character is ‘Flower Colour’, and its character states may include the colours ‘white’, ‘pink’, ‘purple’ etc.

New Zealand Garden Journal, 2015, Vol. 18(2) 9 original New Zealand Native Orchids Other images were crowd-sourced New Zealand native orchid website profiles (which were adapted from members of the New Zealand for the app), and also New Zealand Native Orchid Group and the There are 120 species of formally Plant Conservation Network (NZPCN) NatureWatch NZ orchid project (http:// described native orchids. However, and Flora of NZ online pages. naturewatch.org.nz/projects/new- the total may be up to 160 if we zealand-native-orchids). Native include orchids that don’t yet have However, the app itself is a self- orchids are a popular subject formal botanical names. contained download, so it can be for photography with devotees used in the field without Internet For example, there are a couple of throughout New Zealand. Thanks to access. Because of its completeness, spider orchid species complexes – the generosity of these contributors, the NZ Orchid Key also provides a Nematoceras rivulare (or the new app contains an amazing comprehensive resource for learning rivularis as it is also known) and collection of more than 1500 about this fascinating group of . Nematoceras trilobum (Corybas pictures that would have taken trilobus) aggregates – that have Development of the native orchid several lifetimes for one person to 8–9 informal entities with tag-names app accumulate. This is a great example within each complex. Several of these Murray Dawson (Fig. 2) of Landcare of what can be achieved through entities have recently been studied by Research, Lincoln, led the project, in outreach, citizen science, and crowd- botanists, and will be formally named collaboration with the New Zealand sourcing. and described as new species in the Native Orchid Group (NZNOG). The NZ Orchid Key first became near future. Many others remain to be available as an app late November critically examined. 2015 (for Android) and early In addition to the taxonomic issues of December 2015 (iOS). It is part of species delineation and description, a series of free interactive keys for there has been much debate over identifying New Zealand native and the -level classification of naturalised plants. Online versions Australasian orchids. The tendency to are hosted by Landcare Research split native Australasian orchid genera (www.landcareresearch.co.nz/ into related segregate genera has resources/identification/plants). The Fig. 2 Murray Dawson, in the Allan reversed in recent years, meaning app work extends the accessibility Herbarium at Lincoln, demonstrating the that Australian and New Zealand NZ Orchid Key app. Alongside is a herbarium of these online keys, a move that is botanists are again accepting older, specimen of (striped welcomed by field workers, hikers, sun orchid), one of many specimens that more conservative genus level gardeners, photographers, educators contributed measurements used within the treatments (e.g., accepting re- and students, and anyone interested app. Photo: Caroline King. enlarged , Corybas, and in plants. Kathleen Stewart and Jenny Dent ). As a result, many native worked with Murray measuring The NZ Orchid Key should raise public orchid species have gone (or are in characters from hundreds of awareness of our treasured native the process of going) back to their herbarium specimens4 held at Lincoln orchids, and is a useful tool for those previous names. and . These measurements who need help in identifying them. filled gaps and supplemented characters available online and The family: some facts in published descriptions (see Orchids are an amazing plant family with many interesting features: References). • They are one of the two most species rich families of flowering plants in Michael Pratt provided his species the world (the other is the daisy family, Asteraceae/Compositae) profiles to use within the app, sourced from his outstanding New Zealand • Worldwide the Orchidaceae comprise ca. 28,000 accepted species from Native Orchids website ca. 880 genera (http://nativeorchids.co.nz). • Although the Orchidaceae have a near cosmopolitan distribution including The remaining author of the NZ arctic and sub-Antarctic regions, most species are found in the tropics and Orchid Key is -based subtropics, where the majority are epiphytes (tree perching species) Department of Conservation (DOC) • Orchid species have remarkable diversity of flower structures, linked to botanist and photographer Jeremy their highly specialised pollination systems Rolfe who contributed orchid images from his extensive collection. Jeremy • Horticulturists have created more than 100,000 garden selections (hybrids has co-authored two books on native and cultivars) from overseas species orchids with Peter de Lange, also of • Natural vanilla flavouring comes from the dried seed pods of an orchid DOC (de Lange et al., 2007; Rolfe and (Vanilla planifolia) native to Mexico. de Lange, 2010), and an identification guide to Gastrodia (Rolfe, 2015).

4 A herbarium is somewhat like a library, but instead of books, holds a reference collection of pressed, dried, and labelled plants available for scientific study.

10 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2015, Vol. 18(2) More than half of the New Zealand native orchid species are unique to this country (i.e., they are endemics). Other native species are shared with ; their tiny dust-like seeds have blown across the Tasman to arrive in New Zealand, both recently and in the more distant past. Native orchids are a remarkable and diverse group of plants (Fig. 3–24). They occupy a wide range of habitats throughout New Zealand, from coastal to alpine elevations. In the wild, native orchids are easily B overlooked until seen in flower when Fig. 3 sinclairii (pixie cap orchid). they are at their showiest. There are A, plant in flower showing its single heart- many flower types, including star shaped held above ground level. shaped, hooded, and spider shaped. B, close-up of flower showing the “pixie cap” – the dorsal cupped over the . Terrestrial (ground-dwelling) A Photos: Ian St George. species Most of our native orchids are ground sinclairii, two species , where it is found mainly dwelling perennials, and these (C. oblonga and C. rotundifolia), and at montane to subalpine elevations terrestrial species die back to an Townsonia deflexa. All four species in beech forest. This orchid flowers in underground tuber after flowering and are small orchids found in forest and summer. scrubland, with single oval or heart- fruiting. In New Zealand, the only member shaped leaves, and (depending on of Adenochilus is the slender forest Many terrestrial species favour poorly the species) with 2–4 greenish or orchid, A. gracilis, and the only drained sites and low fertility soils. reddish flowers. The most common member of Aporostylis is the odd- They are often encountered growing gnat orchid throughout New Zealand leaved orchid, A. bifolia. Both are in semi-open habitats alongside is (the heart- relatively common species found hiking tracks, where they become leaved orchid or pixie cap orchid; throughout New Zealand, with a favourite of nature watchers and Fig. 3A–B). This is predominantly a solitary flowers that peak December photographers during the flowering winter flowering species. The two to January, and both are found in season. species of Cyrtostylis are quite similar beech forest and other habitats. in appearance to one another, and Gnat orchids are apparently named As their common names imply, the flower mainly in late winter to early after the insects that pollinate them. slender forest orchid has a slender spring; neither is uncommon in some In New Zealand, these orchids belong habit in flower, and the odd-leaved districts. Townsonia deflexa (the to what the NZNOG call the Acianthus orchid (Fig. 4A–B) has two leaves of creeping forest orchid) is rare in the Alliance – comprising Acianthus markedly different size. North Island and uncommon in the

Native orchid conservation Native orchids have high conservation values and exacting growing requirements so should not be removed from the wild. Native orchids, especially the terrestrial species, will perish in typical home garden conditions and it’s also illegal to remove any plant material from public conservation land without a special permit from DOC. Furthermore, all native orchids are CITES5 species meaning that their export is strictly controlled. As a general rule, the best conservation strategy is to leave native orchids undisturbed in their natural habitats. They can be appreciated and photographed in the wild, but their flowers should not be picked, because that flower can’t then go on to form a seed which can contain hundreds, or thousands, of tiny seeds. If picked, the next generation of plants may be eliminated. Fortunately, the New Zealand Native Orchid Group (NZNOG) and other regional orchid societies have strict codes of conduct reflecting these conservation values. Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System (administered by DOC), five species of native orchids are Nationally Critical, one is Nationally Endangered, four are Nationally Vulnerable, and about 30 species are currently At Risk.

5 CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

New Zealand Garden Journal, 2015, Vol. 18(2) 11 recently returning to Caladenia. The only from one small colony within re-enlarged genus now includes nine a geothermal area at . This or ten species currently recognised species has also been placed in the for New Zealand, and there are also related genus Paracaleana. several tag-named entities. Caladenia is a mainly Australian genus, with more than 300 species (depending on which treatments are accepted), and with one species extending to , and Malaysia.

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B Fig. 4 Aporostylis bifolia (odd-leaved orchid). A, plants showing hairy stems and characteristic pairs of unequal leaves (hence the species name “bifolia” and the common name “odd-leaved orchid”). B, close-up of white flower with yellow blotches and brown spots. Photos: Jeremy Rolfe. Native Caladenia orchids have a range of flower colours that include B white, green, mauve, and pink tones. Fig. 6 minor (flying duck orchid). All share a similar flower shape, A, plant in flower. Photo: Chris Ecroyd. with a hooded dorsal sepal and B B, close-up of flowers showing their resemblance to flying ducks. The “head finger-like and lateral Fig. 5 Caladenia alata (pink fingers). of the duck” is actually an upside-down (e.g., Caladenia alata, which has A, plant in flower.B , close-up of flower showing pink finger-like petals and sepals. orientated labellum covered in raised purple the common name pink fingers; glands. Photo: Ian St George. Fig. 5A–B). Caladenias produce Photos: Jeremy Rolfe. characteristically few flowers One of New Zealand’s Nationally Bearded orchids are named after their (usually one, but up to three for Critical orchids, Caleana minor prominently hairy labella that give some species), and all have long (Fig. 6A–B), has unusual flowers them a very distinctive appearance; and narrow single leaves that are with an uncanny resemblance to when they are not in flower, they usually hairy. Species are mainly tiny flying ducks. In comparison look similar to the sun orchids, found on infertile clay soils amongst to most other orchid species, the Thelymitra. New Zealand has three scrub and light forest, although a few flowers of C. minor are upside-down, native species ( herbaceus, extend up into the alpine zone. Until so that the labellum6 is orientated C. paludosus, and C. robertsonii), all recently, New Zealand caladenias uppermost. Although the flying duck shared with Australia which is centre were placed in the segregate genera orchid is more common in Australia, for the genus (with about 26 species). Petalochilus and Stegostyla before in New Zealand it is currently known Under the New Zealand Threat

6 Labellum means lip – in orchid flowers a labellum refers to the highly modified middle (ventral) which may differ in size, shape or ornamentation from the two lateral petals.

12 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2015, Vol. 18(2) Classification System, Calochilus by “sexual deception” (called cheesemanii, the spurred helmet herbaceus, the copper beard orchid pseudocopulation). orchid (Fig. 9A–B) and Anzybas (Fig. 7A–B), is categorised as a species in New Zealand are all which lack these elongated sepals. Threatened: Nationally Critical shared with Australia, and tend to be Spider orchids typically have single species and the other two are At Risk: found in plantation forestry, especially oval shaped leaves held close to the Naturally Uncommon. under pines. Most are categorised ground and prefer damp banks or as Non Resident Native: Vagrant, shaded areas in forest. New Zealand meaning that they periodically arrive has four segregate genera – in New Zealand after the seeds blow Anzybas (2 spp.), Molloybas (1 sp.), across the Tasman from Australia. Nematoceras (11–13 spp., with They were previously placed in the many tag-names awaiting taxonomic segregate genera Myrmechila and resolution; e.g., Fig. 10A–B), and Simpliglottis, before recently returning Singularybas (1 sp.). Species from to Chiloglottis. In New Zealand, these segregate genera are in the the most widespread species is process of moving back to their Chiloglottis cornuta (ant orchid, green previous names in Corybas. bird orchid; Fig. 8A–B). This species is predominantly self-pollinating, and classed as Not Threatened, so it has overcome the limitations of being absent in New Zealand. The vagrant Chiloglottis formicifera is currently presumed extinct in New Zealand but is abundant in eastern Australia. A

A A

B Fig. 7 Calochilus herbaceus (copper beard orchid). A, flowers (not fully opened). B, close-up of flower showing its unusual bearded labellum. Photos: Jeremy Rolfe. Chiloglottis is a genus of about 24 Australian species with the common names ant orchid, because the B dark calli (warty thickenings on B the labellum) resemble ants, and Fig. 8 Chiloglottis cornuta (green bird Fig. 9 Corybas cheesemanii (spurred orchid). A, plant showing its low stature when bird orchid, perhaps because of a helmet orchid). A, plant showing its helmet- in flower.B , plants showing elongation of like flower, with a pointed cowl-like hood vague resemblance of the flower stems when in fruit. Photos: Jeremy Rolfe. (dorsal sepal) and downward pointing spurs to a bird. However, what the flower Spider orchids are named after (modified petals) at the base. parts are really mimicking, from an B, colony showing how the flower stems their solitary flowers which (for most insect pollinators point of view, is elongate greatly as they develop fruit. species) have long and slender Photos: Jeremy Rolfe. the flightless female of particular sepals that give them a spider-like wasp species, to facilitate pollination appearance. Exceptions are Corybas

New Zealand Garden Journal, 2015, Vol. 18(2) 13 A A A

B B B Cryptostylis subulata (duck bill Gastrodia “long column” (potato Fig. 10 Nematoceras (Corybas) “whiskers”, Fig. 11 Fig. 12 an informally named spider orchid, currently orchid, large tongue orchid). orchid), a tag-name for a plant that may grouped within the N. rivulare species A, flowers. Photo: Landcare Research. soon be botanically described as a new complex, but is nevertheless well known and B, close-up of flowers showing the distinctive species. All species of Gastrodia are leafless elongate labella. Photo: Ian St George. and non-green. , plants in flower showing distinctive. A, colony of plants. B, close-up A of flower showing four long and whisker-like below-ground . Photo: Landcare petals and sepals. Photos: Jeremy Rolfe. Research. B, close-up of flowers. Photo: John Barraclough, via NatureWatch NZ.

Cryptostylis subulata is another of the are mycoheterotrophic. That is to New Zealand (G. cunninghamii, few native orchids that have “upside- say, they are leafless (or with leaves G. minor, and G. sesamoides), down” flowers. Its common names reduced to scales) and completely and there is one undescribed are duck bill orchid and large tongue non-green (lacking chlorophyll). species complex (Gastrodia “long orchid, after the long and oblong Instead of deriving their energy from column” agg.; Fig. 12A–B) currently labellum (Fig. 11A–B). This species photosynthesis, these orchids obtain undergoing study. Gastrodia is only known from bogs north of energy and nutrients from fungi that cunninghamii (huperei, the black Kaitaia, but is common in Australia. are parasitic upon host tree roots. orchid) has relatively long, tuberous rhizomes (which may be up to 250 Three unusual genera of native The native potato orchids (Gastrodia × 50 mm). These starchy rhizomes orchids, represented by Danhatchia spp.) are the most widespread of were traditionally eaten by Māori after australis and Molloybas cryptanthus these non-green species and produce cooking in a hāngī (a buried steam (both endemic and monotypic7 bell-shaped brown flowers. Three oven) or roasting in fire embers. They species), and all species of Gastrodia species are formally accepted for must have been difficult to find and

7 A monotypic genus has only one species for that genus.

14 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2015, Vol. 18(2) dig up as the rhizomes are buried Orthoceras novae-zeelandiae is Corunastylis, Genoplesium, and relatively deep in compacted forest called the horned orchid after its Prasophyllum) and two larger species soil amongst tangled tree roots. There erect lateral sepals resembling horns (the Prasophyllum colensoi agg. are about 60 species of Gastrodia, (Fig. 14A–B); its Māori names are and P. hectorii). The P. colensoi native to New Zealand, Australia, ikaika and paratawhiti. Orthoceras (Fig. 15A–B) species complex Asia, and elsewhere. strictum is a species of uncertain contains at least two tag-named status in New Zealand, and is not entities requiring further study. There New Zealand’s most widespread universally accepted as distinct by are more than 100 accepted species orchid is the common onion-leaved botanists. of Prasophyllum native to Australia. orchid ( unifolia; Fig. 13A– B), named after its single (hence “unifolia”) onion-like tubular leaf. Microtis unifolia is commonly found in the wild and also in pastures, lawns, and urban areas – even in people’s backyards and cracks in street pavements. There are 2–4 other native species of Microtis. All onion orchids have small flowers that are green to yellow-green in colour, flower stems that emerge from about one-third the way up the leaf, and single tubular leaves. Microtis unifolia is widespread in other countries including Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, and China; the other 17 or so species are all endemic to Australia.

A A

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B B Fig. 14 Orthoceras novae-zeelandiae Fig. 15 Prasophyllum colensoi (leek orchid). (horned orchid). A, plant in flower. Photo: A, plant in flower. Photo: Murray Dawson. Ian St George. B, close-up of flower showing B, close-up of flower showing upward erect lateral sepals that resemble horns. orientated (“upside down”) reddish labellum. Photo: Landcare Research. Photo: Ian St George. Leek orchids belong to what the Greenhood orchids (Pterostylis B NZNOG call the Prasophyllum species; Fig. 16A–B) are named Alliance, which in New Zealand 8 Fig. 13 Microtis unifolia (the common onion after their hoods which are usually orchid). A, colony of plants. Photo: Ian comprise two smaller growing coloured green with translucent St George. B, close-up of green to yellow- species (that have been placed in white stripes. Greenhood flowers green flowers. Photo: Jeremy Rolfe.

8 Hooded orchids have a single helmet-shaped structure (called a galea) that protects the top of the flower. The hood is formed by modification of the upper perianth parts of the flower, usually the dorsal sepal and petals, which are expanded and overlap or are fused along their margins.

New Zealand Garden Journal, 2015, Vol. 18(2) 15 have a touch sensitive lip which contains some 200 species from open). Sun orchids have relatively flips backwards to trap small insect New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea, simple star-shaped flowers that pollinators within the flower. To Indonesia, and New Caledonia. may be white, pink, purple, blue, or escape, the insect must crawl over other colours. They have single long Spiranthes (ladies’ tresses orchid) the and through a small leaves with the flower stem emerging is a genus of more than 40 species tunnel, then past the pollen to from base of the leaf. About 16 distributed in the Americas, Eurasia, freedom. The lip usually resets itself species are currently recognised for and Australasia. Spiranthes novae- after 30 minutes. Greenhoods have New Zealand (some are shared with zelandiae (Fig. 17A–B) is an endemic a range of leaf sizes and shapes, Australia), and there is one named species named after this country. It is but most have grass-like leaves. The hybrid and nine or so tag names. classified as Threatened: Nationally preferred habitat for most species is Most species prefer infertile clay soils Vulnerable due to destruction of forest and scrub. in open areas including track-sides its wetland habitats. The other amongst scrub (the spectacular blue- Spiranthes in New Zealand is flowered T. cyanea is an exception, S. “Motutangi”, a tag-name for an growing mostly in swamps and wet undescribed entity recorded from areas). Most of our native species swamps in the far north of the North of sun orchids are found in northern Island. New Zealand. One of several rare sun orchids from Northland includes the Threatened: Nationally Critical spiral sun orchid (Thelymitra matthewsii; Fig. 18A–B).

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B Fig. 16 Pterostylis alobula (winter greenhood), a species that was until recently placed in the segregate genus Diplodium. A, colony of plants. Photo: Michael Pratt. B, close-up of hooded flower. Photo: Jeremy Rolfe. Greenhoods are well represented in the New Zealand native orchid B flora with about 30 species currently recognised, along with several Fig. 17 Spiranthes novae-zelandiae (ladies’ tresses orchid). A, close-up of flowers entities with tag-names. Species arranged spirally around the stem. Photo: that were in the segregate genera Jeremy Rolfe. B, young fruit. Diplodium, Hymenochilus, Linguella, Photo: Landcare Research. B and Plumatichilos have recently The sun orchids (Thelymitra) are been accepted back into Pterostylis. Fig. 18 Thelymitra matthewsii (spiral sun named because most only open from orchid). A, plant in flower showing spiralling Depending on acceptance of these the warmth of the full sun (even then, leaf. B, close-up of purple flower. genus-level changes, Pterostylis a few species remain reluctant to Photos: Jeremy Rolfe.

16 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2015, Vol. 18(2) This is the only native orchid with a species is glabrous (without hairs), an bamboo orchid (after its cane-like leaf that spirals around the flower image taken by Peter Heenan clearly stems), Christmas orchid (after its stem. It was considered extinct in shows a young leaf with basal hairs flowering time of Dec–Jan), ladies’ New Zealand until found again in (Fig. 19B). Waireia stenopetala is slipper orchid (because of the slipper- the 1980s (it’s also a rare species in locally common in the South Island shaped flower buds), and the Māori Australia). There are 80–100 species (where it can occur down to sea names pekapeka and winika. of sun orchid, with the majority in level), but rare in the North Island Australia (about 50 spp.), and others (where it is confined to montane and found in New Caledonia, Timor, Java, sub-alpine elevations on Mt Ruapehu and the Philippines. and the Tararua Range). Epiphytic (tree-perching) species In addition to our native terrestrial orchids, New Zealand has nine epiphytic species from the genera Bulbophyllum (Adelopetalum and Ichthyostomum), Dendrobium (Winika), Drymoanthus, , and A Taeniophyllum. As well as being tree- perching, some species are also able to grow on rocks, cliff faces or banks (these are called lithophytes). Epiphytic orchids don’t die back each season like the terrestrial species, and are most often seen up close when the tree branches they are growing on have fallen to the ground following storms. A With more than 2000 species found in the warmer regions of the world, Bulbophyllum is one of the largest genera in the orchid family, or for B that matter any genus of flowering plants. There is huge diversity, Fig. 20 Bulbophyllum pygmaeum (pygmy tree orchid, piripiri). A, stem, leaves, and although one uniting character is that pseudobulbs alongside a match to show their they all possess pseudobulbs (bulb- small size. Photo: Ian St George. B, close-up like thickenings of the stems from of scabrid leaves and creamy-green flower. which the leaves arise). Like most Photo: Jeremy Rolfe. of New Zealand’s other segregate Worldwide, Dendrobium is a large orchid genera, our native species genus of about 1200 epiphytic Adelopetalum tuberculatum and species, found throughout Asia, Ichthyostomum pymaeum are likely and extends down to islands of the to return, or have already returned, Pacific and to Australasia. Numerous respectively, to Bulbophyllum. The horticultural selections have been common name pygmy tree orchid bred from overseas species. B and the species name B. pygmaeum (Fig. 20A–B) reflect the diminutive New Zealand has two species of Fig. 19 Waireia stenopetala (yellow beaks). stature of this plant, with small leaves Drymoanthus, D. adversus (the green A, flowers showing yellow-green beak-like fleshy tree orchid, little moa) and hood with reddish-brown markings. Photo: (2.5–13 mm long) and tiny flowers Ian St George. B, close-up of relatively (only 2.5 mm across). The pygmy the At Risk: Naturally Uncommon young leaf showing brown blotching and tree orchid is relatively common on D. flavus (the spotted fleshy tree basal hairs. Photo: Peter Heenan. coastal to montane well-lit tree trunks orchid, little spotted moa). Like Waireia stenopetala (beak orchid, and branches, and is sometimes seen other orchids, Drymoanthus flavus horizontal orchid, yellow beaks) growing on rocky substrates. (Fig. 22A–B) should not be removed is a monotypic genus endemic from the wild, but unfortunately it has to New Zealand (in 1997 it was had some populations destroyed by (Fig. 21A–B) is the sole New Zealand segregated from the Australian genus plant collectors. Drymoanthus has representative of the genus. Until Lyperanthus). The common name a restricted distribution elsewhere recently, it was separated into its own yellow beaks refers to the yellow- as only two other species are genus Winika, but many botanists green beak-like dorsal sepal that known (Drymoanthus minimus of have now accepted it back into creates a hood almost hiding the rest New Caledonia and D. minutus of Dendrobium. This native orchid has of the flower (Fig. 19A). Although ). a range of common names, including published descriptions state that this

New Zealand Garden Journal, 2015, Vol. 18(2) 17 A

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B B B Fig. 21 Dendrobium cunninghamii Fig. 22 Drymoanthus flavus (spotted fleshy Fig. 23 (spring earina). (bamboo orchid). A, large plant perching tree orchid). A, plant showing epiphytic habit, A, plant showing its long and narrow leaves on a tree. Photo: John Barraclough, via conspicuous rhizomes, and characteristically and numerous flowers. B, close-up of flowers NatureWatch NZ. B, close-up of flower spotted leaves. Photo: Landcare Research. showing yellow two-lobed labella. showing purple lateral lobes on the labellum B, close-up of flower showing incurved Photos: Jeremy Rolfe. and slipper-shaped flower bud in the labellum. Photo: Ian St George. background. Photo: Jeremy Rolfe.

Earina is another epiphytic genus Norfolk Island ribbonroot, and and the identification app received which, like Dendrobium, sometimes orchid spaghetti) has no leaves, great feedback from users. The new grows on rocks instead of their usual but instead uses its green roots for NZ Orchid Key app has proven to be tree-perching habitat. They are also photosynthesis to obtain energy even more popular. commonly called bamboo orchids from the sun. This rare and unusual Murray is working on releasing others, after their cane-like stems. However, species was only known previously including an app for the identification in contrast to Dendrobium, there are from Norfolk Island where it is an of New Zealand weeds9. However, only seven species of Earina currently epiphyte of Norfolk Island pine. further funding is needed for recognised worldwide, and these This concludes our overview of completion of this work. are restricted to a few South Pacific native orchid genera and species, islands (Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Acknowledgements both terrestrial and epiphytic. For a Fiji, Samoa, and New Zealand). Funding for these interactive key comprehensive list of species and New Zealand is well represented projects was provided by the synonyms, see www.nativeorchids. with three species, Earina aestivalis, New Zealand TFBIS (Terrestrial & co.nz/Checklist.htm. E. autumnalis, and E. mucronata Freshwater Biodiversity Information (Fig. 23A–B), which produce Other apps for identifying System) Programme. numerous flowers. New Zealand plants Cissy Pan of Landcare Research The first LucidMobile™ app version The tiny ribbon-root orchid created the icon and start-up screen of the online (browser-based) keys (Taeniophyllum norfolkianum; artwork used in the NZ Orchid Key was the NZ Coprosma Key, released Fig. 24A–B) was a remarkable and app (Fig. 1A–B). Caroline King of in December 2014 (Android) and recent discovery for New Zealand. Landcare Research took the publicity January 2015 (iOS). David Glenny It was first found late 2009 from photo (Fig. 2) reproduced here. and his collaborators developed one population south of Whangarei. We thank John Barraclough, Chris that key, and Murray Dawson also Only 140 plants have reportedly Ecroyd, Peter Heenan, and Matt managed its translation into an app. been found, all growing epiphytically Renner for permission to use their Coprosma is a plant genus of 53 on gorse. The ribbon-root orchid outstanding images of native orchids. species recognised in New Zealand (also called the minute orchid,

9 An online (non-app) version of the weeds key was outlined in the New Zealand Garden Journal, 2011, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 2–4 (see www.rnzih.org.nz/RNZIH_Journal/Pages_2-4_from_2011_Vol14_No1.pdf).

18 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2015, Vol. 18(2) References Websites de Lange, P.; Rolfe, J.; St George, I.; (accessed December 2015) Sawyer, J. (2007). Wild orchids Flora of New Zealand Online – Taxon of the Lower North Island: Field Profile – Orchidaceae: guide 2007. Published by the www.nzflora.info/factsheet/Taxon/ Department of Conservation, Orchidaceae.html. Wellington Conservancy, NatureWatch NZ New Zealand Native New Zealand. Orchids Project: Moore, L. and Edgar, E. (1970). http://naturewatch.org.nz/projects/ Flora of New Zealand. Volume II. new-zealand-native-orchids. Indigenous Tracheophyta, New Zealand Plant Conservation Monocotyledones except Network: Gramineae. Government Printer, A www.nzpcn.org.nz. Wellington, New Zealand. New Zealand Native Orchids: Rolfe, J. (2015). Guide to http://nativeorchids.co.nz. New Zealand Gastrodia Ngā Tipu o Aotearoa – New Zealand (Orchidaceae). Published online Plants databases: by the NZ Plant Conservation http://nzflora.landcareresearch. Network, http://nzpcn.org. co.nz. nz/publications/Gastrodia- guide-B5-151229.pdf. Rolfe, J. and de Lange, P. (2010). Murray was interviewed on Illustrated guide to New Zealand the native orchid app by sun orchids, Thelymitra Radio New Zealand Nine to (Orchidaceae). Published by Noon’s host Kathryn Ryan Jeremy Rolfe, Lower Hutt, on 18 December 2015. This New Zealand. interview can be heard on the B Scanlen, E.A. and St George, I.M. RNZ website at www.radionz. Fig. 24 Taeniophyllum norfolkianum (2011). Colour field guide to the co.nz/national/programmes/ (ribbon-root orchid). A, small plant growing native orchids of New Zealand. ninetonoon/audio/201783381/ epiphytically on gorse. Photo: Matt Renner. 3rd edition. Published by the NZ app-for-identifying-endangered- B, close-up of plant showing an absence of leaves and with green photosynthetic roots. Native Orchid Group, Wellington, native-orchids Photo: Jeremy Rolfe. New Zealand.

Thelymitra pulchella. Photo: Landcare Research

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