Corybas hypogaeus
Synonyms
Corysanthes hypogaea Colenso; Nematoceras hypogaeum (Colenso) Molloy, D.L.Jones et M.A.Clem.
Family
Orchidaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
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.
NEMHYP
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: North Island (Hunua Range, Waikato and Wairarapa), South Island (North-west Nelson).
Habitat
Lowland to montane (up to 1000 m a.s.l.). In kānuka (Kunzea spp.)- or beech (Nothofagaceae)-dominated forest, and on the margins of swamps developed within such vegetation types. Usually found near the trunks of these trees, semi buried in deep drifts of semi-rotted leaves. The leaf is all that is usually exposed.
Detailed description
Diminutive, terrestrial, fleshy, late winter to early spring flowering perennial forming extensive colonies through vegetative extension. Plants buried within leaf-litter usually only with the leaf exposed. Leaf solitary, held well above flower, much veined, veins largely anastomosing with longitudinal dots in the interspaces; distinctly petiolate, petiole 10–15 mm long, white often pinkish, with a sheathing truncate bract at base; lamina membranous, shining, 11.5–18.4 mm diameter, light green above, midrib and marginal spots purple; silvery to purple-silvery below; cordate-reniform to weakly pandurate, trilobed at apex, middle lobe prolonged, acute, acuminate, side margins sinuate with a single notch on both sides near the sub-hastate base, auricles large, distant, blunt-ended. Peduncle short, 2.3–4.6 mm long, hyaline, white or pinkish opaque. Floral bracts two, unequal, set close to base of flower, smaller bract to the front of the peduncle, minute, linear, obtuse; the larger bract set to the back to the peduncle, ovate-oblong, obtuse. Flower solitary, 6.9–9.2 mm diameter. Dorsal sepal sub-obovate-spathulate, narrowest at base, rounded and slightly sinuate or subapiculate at apex rather finely veined, arching and closely clasping, green with a purple median line. Lateral sepals up to 15 mm long, hyaline or pinkish opaque, linear, acuminate, very narrow-filiform. Petals up to 9.2 mm long, hyaline or pinkish opaque, filiform, 9.2 mm long. Labellum short, auriculate at base, apex abruptly flared with rounded and incurved margins, basal portion bearing 2–3 deeply cut laciniae, otherwise deeply and jaggedly cut. Fruit narrowly ovoid to ellipsoid borne on greatly elongated peduncle arising well above leaf litter.
Manaaki Whenua Online Interactive Key
Similar taxa
Allied to and distinguished from the rest of the Corybas trilobus Hook.f. complex by the tiny flower, which is usually found buried in the leaf litter, and by the distinctly jagged-edged, incurved labellum.
Flowering
August–September
Flower colours
Red/Pink, Violet/Purple
Fruiting
September–December
Propagation technique
Difficult—should not be removed from the wild. Can be grown in basic orchid mix consisting of 2 parts medium coarse sand, ideally clean river sand; 2 parts soil, humus or leaf-mould; 1 part weathered sawdust or rotting wood; 1 part granulated bark. Many Corybas thrive when more leaf-mould is added, and the plants grown in 50–70% shade, in the cooler, darker end of the shade-house, in pots kept moist throughout the growing period.
Etymology
corybas: Helmet flower
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.
Lehnebach (2016) made three combinations for those Nematoceras lacking valid names in Corybas. This action enabled 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 14 April 2007. Description modified from Colenso (1884).
References and further reading
Colenso W. 1884. A further contribution towards making known the botany of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 16: 325–363. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/TPRSNZ1883-16.2.6.2.25.
Jones DL, Clements MA, Sharma IK, Mackenzie AM, Molloy BPJ. 2002. Nomenclatural notes arising from studies into the Tribe Diurideae (Orchidaceae). The Orchadian 13: 437–468. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/310769#page/5/mode/1up.
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 SP. 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. https://asset.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/UAXO3VHO6P7EH8Y/R/file-19145.pdf.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Corybas hypogaeus Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/corybas-hypogaeus/ (Date website was queried)