Chiloglottis formicifera
Common name
ant orchid
Synonyms
Myrmechila formicifera (Fitzg.) D.L.Jones et M.A.Clem.
Family
Orchidaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Orchids
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley. Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Non-resident Native – Vagrant | Qualifiers: SO
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Non-resident Native – Vagrant | Qualifiers: SO
2009 | Non-resident Native – Vagrant | Qualifiers: EW, SO
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
In New Zealand known from only one historic site near Kaitaia. Abundant in eastern Australia.
Habitat
The sole New Zealand record came from under dense shrubland. In Australia this species is widespread though often sparsely distributed, and tends to grow near streams in deep drifts of leaf litter.
Detailed description
Terrestrial orchid forming dense colonies. Leaves up to 60 × 25 mm, dark green, ovate-lanceolate with undulose margins. Flower stem up to 100 mm tall, bearing a solitary, narrow, flower up to 20 mm diameter, segments mostly dark green with brownish markings, or brownish-green. Perianth segments up to 20 mm long. Dorsal sepal erect and incurved. Lateral sepals recurved in the upper two-thirds, divergent, apex not clavate. Petals either spreading or reflexed against ovary. Labellum up to 12 × 7 mm, trapeziform, greenish to purple-green; lamina callus ant-shaped, central, a band of pink to black glands extending from near the base of the lamina apex; basal transverse glands largest; the upper glands sessile. Fruiting capsules not seen in New Zealand.
Manaaki Whenua Online Interactive Key
Similar taxa
Most similar to Chiloglottis trapeziformis from which it differs by the leaf margins which are usually undulose rather than flat; mostly larger, greenish-brown to brown (rather than green) flower often with purple green tones to the labellum; obliquely erect to erect (rather than erect) rhomboid (rather than truncate to rhomboid) labellum with the callus extending to the labellum apex (rather than confined to the basal portion); much more prominent central ant-shaped lamina callus; and greater calli ornamentation either side of the central callus.
Flowering
September–November
Flower colours
Brown, Green
Fruiting
Fruits apparently not formed in New Zealand
Propagation technique
Easily grown. Plants of Australian origin are held by some New Zealand specialists.
Threats
The only known New Zealand occurrence was eliminated through a combination of habitat loss and over collection by an amateur botanist. Had it survived here it is doubtful if it would have set seed as its pollination vector is absent from New Zealand.
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
TAXONOMIC NOTES
Considerable controversy has surrounded the exact identity of the Kaitaia collections (see Scanlen 2003; de Lange et al. 2004)). de Lange et al. (2009, as Myrmechila) agreed with Scanlen (2003) that the Kaitaia collections are not C. (Myrmechila) trapeziformis but are correctly assigned to C. (Myrmechila) formicifera. Research by Miller & Clements (2014) has now shown that the segregate genera Myrmechila and Simpliglottis proposed by Szlachekto (2001) and Jones & Clements (2005) should be reduced to synonymy within Chiloglottis. Their treatment is followed here.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 14 April 2007: Description adapted from Jones (1998) and Moore & Edgar (1970).
References and further reading
de Lange PJ, Norton DA, Heenan PB, Courtney SP, Molloy BPJ, Ogle CC, Rance BD, Johnson PN, Hitchmough R. 2004. Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2004.9512890.
de Lange PJ, Norton DA, Courtney SP, Heenan PB, Barkla JW, Cameron EK, Hitchmough RA, Townsend AJ. 2009. Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47(1): 61–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288250909509794.
Jones DL. 1998. Native Orchids of Australia. Reed, Australia.
Jones DL, Clements MA. 2005. Miscellaneous Nomenclatural Notes and Changes in Australian, New Guinea and New Zealand Orchidaceae. The Orchadian 15: 33–42.
Miller JT, Clements MA. 2014. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of Drakaeinae: Diurideae (Orchidaceae) based on DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region. Australian Systematic Botany 27: 3–22. https://doi.org/10.1071/SB13036.
Moore LB, Edgar E. 1970. Flora of New Zealand, Volume II. Indigenous Tracheophyta: Monocotyledones except Gramineae. Government Printer, Wellington, NZ. 354 p.
Scanlen E. 2003. The Column. 2. Chiloglottis round up. The New Zealand Native Orchid Journal 86: 14–15.
Szlachekto DL. 2001. Genera et Species Orchidalium 1. Polish Botanical Journal 46: 11–26.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Chiloglottis formicifera Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/chiloglottis-formicifera/ (Date website was queried)