Danhatchia australis
Common name
Yoania, Danhatchia
Synonyms
Yoania australis Hatch
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.
DANAUS
Chromosome number
2n = 22
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: Sp, TO
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand (see de Lange & Molloy 1998): North and South Islands. In the North Island recorded from Waipoua south to Mt Pirongia but mainly found north of Waiuku. Also on Little and Great Barrier and the Mokohinau Islands. In the South Island known only from the Kaihoka Lakes area, north-west Nelson.
Habitat
Coastal to lowland, in forest dominated by taraire (Beilschmiedia tarairi) and nikau (Rhopalostylis sapida). This saprophytic orchid grows in deep leaf litter intermixed with a fungus which is mostly associated with nikau. Popular mythology has it that it is exclusively associated with taraire this is incorrect (see de Lange & Molloy 1998). It has also been collected once growing from amongst dense shrubs of Spanish Heather (Erica lusitanica). Easily overlooked as it does not necessarily flower every year, and after heavy flowering plants may rest for several years before flowering again.
Features
Saprophytic, subterranean, leafless, rhizomatous, perennial herb lacking chlorophyll. Rhizomes buried deep within partially decomposed leaves and leaf mould; 3-5 mm diameter, vermiform, brittle, more or less opaque, pinkish grey coloured, much-branched and interwoven, irregularly bearing tufts of long colourless hairs, and vestigial scale-leaves. Stems erect up to 200 mm tall, unbranched, pale rose-pink, pinkish-grey, pale brown to mushroom grey, glabrescent to glandular-pubescent. Scale-leaves 1-7(-15), 10-15 mm long, chartaceous, much paler than stem, many-nerved, basal scale-leaves semi-tubular, those higher up open-sheathed. Floral bracts similar to scale-leaves. Pedicels very short. Flowers 1-5(-10), suberect. Perianth 6 mm long, brownish or pinkish-grey with white apices, externally more or less glandular-pubescent. Dorsal sepal more or less oblong, slightly concave; lateral sepals similar, more or less spreading. Petals similar, included within sepals. Labellum sessile, orbicular to broadly oblong, column-embracing; base broad, slightly pouched bearing on each side several fleshy hairs and/or elongated calli; median line thickened; sides becoming thick, fleshy and stiff towards apex, externally tuberculate; margins inturned, thin and membranous; mid-lobe minute, orbicular, deeply concave. Column almost as tall as labellum, basally subcylindric becoming winged, wings very narrow; filament broad, rigid; connective slightly produced; anther tall, erect, stationary, each cell with two sets of transversely oblique, closely packed, vermiform, sectile, pollinia; stigma appearing bilobed, often funneliform, with side lobes that flare widely in old flowers; rostellum long, narrow-triangular, wedged between the long pollinia.
Similar taxa
None. It could be confused with Gastrodia which can grow in similar habitats but orchids from that genus have much taller, glabrous, dark brown or black-brown, spotted stems bearing fewer scale-leaves, and larger flowers.
Flowering
December - February
Flower colours
Grey, White
Fruiting
December - April
Propagation technique
A saprophytic orchid which is unknown from cultivation. Should not be removed from the wild
Threats
Not Threatened in New Zealand - but not very common either, and at risk from orchid collectors.
Etymology
australis: Southern
Taxonomic Notes
Plants discovered in Australia in 2009 and initially assigned to Danhatchia australis were then described as a new species D. novaehollandiae D.L.Jones et M.A.Clem. (Jones & Clements 2018). However, subsequent critical assessment of this species by Orchid experts at the New South Wales Herbarium (NSW, Sydney) can see no valid reason to uphold D. novae-hollandiae (M.A.M. Renner puers. comm.). It is their view, and this is accepted here, that Danhatchia novaehollandiae is the same as D. australis.
http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Danhatchia~australis
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 2 March 2007. Description adapted from Moore & Edgar (1970), supplemented with observations obtained from fresh plants and herbarium specimens.
References and further reading
de Lange P.J.; Molloy B.PJ. 1998: Two new localities for Danhatchia australis (Orchidaceae). New Zealand Botanical Society Newsletter 51: 6
9.
Moore, L.B.; Edgar, E. 1970: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. II. Government Printer, Wellington.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Danhatchia australis Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/danhatchia-australis/ (Date website was queried)