Calochilus paludosus
Common name
bearded orchid
Synonyms
None
Family
Orchidaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Orchids
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
CALPAL
Chromosome number
2n = 24
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). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By 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.
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, EF, SO, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: SO, EF
2004 | Sparse
Distribution
Indigenous. North and northern South Islands (North West Nelson to northern Westland). Present in Australia where it is very common
Habitat
A species of disturbed habitats. It is usually found in open gumland scrub or pakihi, on clay pans or on road side banks. Also commonly encountered near geothermally active ground. Sometimes found amongst tussock grassland in upper montane situations.
Features
Slender to stout orchid 150-900 mm tall. Stem erect, light green to yellow-green (sometimes glaucous). Leaf fleshy, linear-lanceolate, yellow-green to green, channelled, sheathing at base apex acute. Cauline bracts similar but much shorter. Inflorescence a raceme of (1-)2(-4) flowers. Floral bracts narrow, acute, overtopping ovary. Perianth mostly green, except for bright reddish lamina and red to red-violet cilia of labellum (cilia copious, rather long). Dorsal sepal 10-15 mm long, broad-elliptic, acute, somewhat folded about column; lateral sepals similar though smaller. Petals shorter, obliquely deltoid, apex subacute, directed toward dorsal sepal, green finely striped with red. Labellum green suffused with red or purple, with a reddish apex, not much larger than sepals and petals; ligulate apex, bare rather long, tapering, straight; disc broad with dense long processes; base covered with numerous small, acute purple-red, maroon to red calli, and on each side of these are two short, erect, intramarginal greenish plate-like calli. Column wings with out basal glands or calli.
Similar taxa
Of the three species of Calochilus R.Br. known from New Zealand, C. paludosus is easily distinguished by the column-wings which lack basal glands, by the ligulate, glabrous and rather long and conspicuously tapering apex of the labellum.
Flowering
(September-) October-December
Flower colours
Green, Red/Pink
Fruiting
October - February
Life cycle
Minute seeds are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Impossible to cultivate. It should not be removed from the wild.
Threats
Habitat loss and plant collectors are the main threats to this attractive bearded orchid
Etymology
calochilus: From Greek kalos (beautiful) and cheilos (lip), referring to the attractive labellum
paludosus: Of the swamp
Attribution
Description adapted from Moore and Edgar (1970)
References and further reading
Moore, L.B.; Edgar, E. 1970: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. II. Government Printer, Wellington.
Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 2009 Vol. 11 No. 4 pp. 285-309