The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Corybas papa

Etymology

Corybas: helmet flower

Common Name(s)

Mudstone Spider Orchid

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Corybas papa Molloy et Irwin

Family

Orchidaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Orchids

Synonyms

Corysanthes papa (Molloy et Irwin) Szlach.; Nematoceras papa (Molloy et Irwin) Molloy, D.L.Jones et M.A.Clem.

Distribution

Endemic. North Island, where it seems to be wholly westerly in distribution from about Port Waikato south to the western Ruahine Range

Habitat

Coastal to montane (up to 1100 m a.s.l.). Favouring base rich substrates, especially calcaerous mudstones, siltstones (both known as Papa rock), and limestone but also on basalt. Usually in, or near seepages or on the margins of slow-flowing streams

Features

Terrestrial, tuberous, glabrous,summer-green herb forming extensive colonies. Tuberoids globose to ellipsoid on extended roots. Leaf solitary, firm and fleshy, sessile; usually spreading and held flat to the ground surface; lamina 18-40 x 15-35 mm, blunt wedge-shaped to ovate-oblong, sometimes pandurate, apiculate at apex, with apiculus decurved, rounded and cordate at base; midrib slightly grooved above, flat beneath; leaf colour dull green above with purple flecks on margins, on midrib, or overall, silvery beneath. Flowers 1(-2), 10-15 mm long, generally green throughout except for labellum tube, dominated by the labellum, filiform petals and lateral sepals, on a usually purple streaked peduncle 3.0-5.0 x 1.5-2.0 mm. Ovary 5-8 x 2-4 mm, green, sometimes streaked with purple, curved, subtended by two unequal floral bracts, the smaller vestigial to 3 mm long, subulate, the larger 6-10 x 3-5 mm, narrowly ovate-lanceolate, green, equaling the ovary. Dorsal sepal 15-20 x 5-8 mm, exceeding the labellum, lanceolate in outline when flattened, concave, cucullate and arching over the labellum tube, with apex upturned; green, slightly diffused with purple on the veins. Lateral sepals 50.0-70.0 x 0.5-1.0 mm at widest point; filiform, greatly exceeding labellum; green, sometimes flecked with purple; suberect to erect and spreading; channelled, and twisted. Petals 40.0-60.0 x 0.5-1.0 mm at widest point, usually shorter than lateral sepals, filiform, greatly exceeding labellum, projecting forwards and outwards; channelled, auriculate at base of the column. Auricles short, projecting downwards and forwards, with apertures 1.0-1.5 mm across. Labellum usually green except for labellum tube and upper margins of lamina which are often purple-flushed or streaked; labellum tube 8-10 mm long, erect at first then doubly deflexed through 90-180 degrees, expanding into the lamina; lamina 6-8 x 8-10 mm, broadly ovate; upper margins folded inwards and overlapping; lower surface spreading, deflexed against ovary; rounded or obtuse with slightly erose margins and a median apiculus; inner surface with scattered minute papillae, veins ridged; throat of labellum tube notched, barely over half-way on lamina. Column 2.5-3.0 mm long, broadest and ridged at base, inclined backwards, minutely winged. Stigma scutiform, 0.7 mm diameter, concave. Anther 1 mm, obtuse. Pollinia 4, united in pairs, 0.6 x 0.4 mm, oblong, mealy, yellow. Capsule 10-16 x 4-6 mm, elliptic, initially green later brown, on greatly elongated peduncle.

Similar Taxa

Allied to Corybas rivularis, C. papa is distinguished from that species and indeed all other Corybas by the combination of sessile, bluntly wedge-shaped, usually spotted leaves; relatively small. predominantly green flowers; broad concave dorsal sepal; subequal petals and lateral sepals; doubly deflexed labellum spreading against the ovary, compressed front to back; and with a flared, rounded or obtuse, apiculate lamina.

Flowering

August - October

Flower Colours

Green,Violet / Purple

Fruiting

October - January

Propagation Technique

Difficult - should not be removed from the wild.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 36

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 16 Jan 2016