The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Corybas sanctigeorgianus Lehnebach

Etymology

Corybas: helmet flower
sanctigeorgianus: Named after Dr Ian St George, a New Zealand born and based medical practitioner, amateur orchidologist and botanical historian

Common Name(s)

Spider orchid

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

2016 - Data Deficient

Authority

Corybas sanctigeorgianus Lehnebach

Family

Orchidaceae

Brief Description

Terrestrial, seasonal orchid. Leaves solitary kidney-shaped to heart-shaped, distinctly acuminate. Flowers solitary, central portion white otherwise dark red towards the margins, surface of labellum covered with short trichomes.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Orchids

Synonyms

None - first described in 2016

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand, North Island, Hunua Ranges

Habitat

In lowland mixed broad-leaf / podocarp forest. growing in skeletal soils covered in leaf litter and on the trunk bases of tree ferns

Features

Terrestrial herbs, 14–20 mm tall at flowering. Leaf distinctly petiolate, petiole 9.0–22.6 mm long; lamina reniform to cordiform, 8.5–13.8 × 12.6–20.3 mm; margin entire; apex acuminate 1.5–3.3 mm long. Flower solitary, held erect on a peduncle 2.5–4.4 mm long; floral bract ovate when flattened, 3.74–7.6 × 2.0–2.7 mm; dorsal sepal light green with a few blotches of dark red, arching over the labellum, concave to cucullate, narrow at the base and wide towards the tip, apex rounded or slightly mucronate; lateral sepals linear-filiform, white or translucent with dark red specks, 11.8–19.8 mm long; petals similar to the lateral sepals but longer, 32.8–53.3 mm long; labellum white in the centre, dark red towards the margins, and covered with short trichomes, auriculate at base; aperture 1.5–2.1 mm diameter; lamina deflexed, ca. 5 mm wide, with a central groove formed by the inward folding of the lamina, extending downwards half way the lamina and sunken pit formed at the point where the lamina bends, lateral margins incurve, mostly entire, lower margin laciniate to finally denticulate. Ovary 3.3–5.3 mm long. Column 1.8 mm long, straight, with truncate column wings on both sides of the stigma.

Similar Taxa

Corybas sanctigeorgianus is most similar to Corybas hypogaeus with respect to its flower and leaf shape but it can be distinguished from that species by its straight ovary, labellum with a white centre and dorsal sepal extending beyond the labellum. It differs from Corybas trilobus by its long dorsal sepal and the white centre of the labellum.

Flowering

August - September

Flower Colours

White

Fruiting

October - November

Propagation Technique

Difficult - should not be removed from the wild

Threats

Lehnebach et al. (2016) assess this species using the New Zealand Threat Classification System as 'Threatened / Nationally Critical' observing that this species has so far been found at only one site where there are fewer than 100 individuals known. This decision has yet to be ratified by the Threat Listing panel and it has subsequently been found at a second Hunua Range location. Either way it would seem that this species, as a newly recognised taxon within a variable complex of poorly understood species may merit listing as 'Data Deficient' or at least with the suggested Threatened Status qualified 'DP' [Data Poor]

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 27 Sep 2016