Species
Corybas sulcatus
Etymology
Corybas: helmet flower
Current Conservation Status
2018 - Data Deficient
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 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - Range Restricted
Qualifiers
2009 - OL, RR
Authority
Corybas sulcatus (M.A. Clem. et D.L. Jones) G.N. Backh.
Family
Orchidaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Native
Structural Class
Orchids
Synonyms
Nematoceras sulcatum M.A.Clem. et D.L.Jones
Distribution
Endemic to Macquarie Island. However, plants from the Antipodes, Auckland and Campbell Islands are scarcely any different. Plants on the Chatham Islands also approach it but seem much larger, and these plants are loosely linked to forms found in the South Island.
Habitat
Confined to the plateau uplands, growing in very wet grassy seepages amongst Festuca contracta , Agrostis magellanica, Luzula crinita, mosses and liverworts.
Similar Taxa
Differs from most of the New Zealand C. trilobus complex by the dark red flower arising from below the leaf lamina, narrowly obovate-spathulate dorsal sepal, and smaller ovate-orbicular labellum with a denticulate apical margin. However, the relationship of C. sulcatus to similar plants on the Chatham, Antipodes, Campbell and Auckland Islands needs critical investigation as they share most of these characters.
Flowering
November - December
Fruiting
Unknown
Propagation Technique
Difficult - should not be removed from the wild. Its only known habitat is a Nature Reserve and World Heritage Site. Macquarie Island is part of Geopolitical Australia.
Threats
Not Threatened. Listed because it is endemic to Macquarie Island where it is sparsely distributed.
Endemic Taxon
Yes
Endemic Genus
No
Endemic Family
No
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
TAXONOMIC NOTES
Considerable research is underway to investigate the validity of the segregate genera split from Corybas R.Br. by Jones et al. (2002). Whilst much of that work has yet to be published, on advice from Australian Orchidologists Peter Weston and Stephen Hopper (pers. comm., July 2011, November 2014), all of the segregate genera recognised for New Zealand by Jones et al. (2002) are returned to Corybas (see also Lyon 2014).
Recently Lehnebach (2016) has made three combinations for those Nematoceras lacking valid names in Corybas. This action now enables the full transfer of Nematoceras back to Corybas. However, as of writing, a formal publication rejecting the segregation of Corybas by Jones et al. (2002) has yet to be published. Lehnebach cites an unpublished PhD (Lyon 2014) that indicates this move is imminent.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (31 August 2006).
References and further reading
Backhouse, G.N. 2010: New combinations in the terrestrial orchid genera Caladenia R. Br., Corybas Salisb. and Pterostylis R. Br. (Orchidaceae) for South-eastern Australia. Victorian Naturalist 127(2): 55-57.
Clements, M.A.; Jones, D.L. 2006: A new species of Nematoceras and characterization of N. dienemum (Orchidaceae), both from subantarctic Macquarie Island. Telopea 11: 406-408.
Jones, D.L.; Clements, M.A.; Sharma, I.K.; Mackenzie, A.M.; Molloy, B.P.J. 2002: Nomenclatural notes arising from studies into the Tribe Diurideae (Orchidaceae). The Orchadian 13: 437-468.
Lehnebach, C. 2016: New combinations and a replacement name for three New Zealand spider orchids (Corybas). The New Zealand Native Orchid Journal 139. 4-5.
Lyon, S. P. 2014: Molecular systematics, biogeography, and mycorrhizal associations in the Acianthinae (Orchidaceae), with a focus on the genus Corybas. PhD Thesis, University of
Wisconsin-Madison. USA.
This page last updated on 16 Jan 2016