Prasophyllum hectorii
Common names
swamp leek orchid
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Orchids
Flower colours
Green, Yellow
Detailed description
Stout orchid of wetlands. Plants sweetly scented, 0.15–1 m tall at flowering. Tuber ovoid usually paired with previous season’s tuber, roots few, stout, peg-like. Stem erect, fleshy, terete, dark green. Leaf solitary, usually overtopping raceme; lamina yellow-green to dark green, fleshy, terete, apex acute. Inflorescence a few to many flowered raceme. Flowers more or less evenly spaced, 10–80-flowered, fleshy-succulent. Perianth yellow, yellow-green to green. Dorsal sepal 6–8 mm, broad-ovate, concave. Lateral sepals somewhat longer, narrow-oblong, free to base, margins thin, apex often hooded, sometimes appearing bidentate. Petals slightly shorter, thinner. Labellum yellow, white or black, prominent, narrowed at base to a short, stout claw, ovate, sharply bent at a right angle halfway from base; margin undulate; callus confined to proximal tip. Lateral processes of column oblong, falcate, as tall as rostellum. Anther sessile, overtopped by rostellum. Stigma prominent.
Similar taxa
A distinctive species with a very specific habitat requirement, such that it rarely grows with other orchid species. It could be confused with some forms of Prasophyllum colensoi Hook.f. that sometimes grow in wetlands but these are usually much shorter plants, with fewer reddish coloured flowers. The callus of the labellum in P. colensoi extends the whole length, almost to the apex, whereas that of P. hectorii is confined to the proximal part.
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: North Island (formerly known from Te Paki south to near Waiouru; current records exist for Te Paki, Waikato and Central Volcanic Plateau), Chatham Islands (one site on Rēkohu / Wharekauri / Chatham Island).
Habitat
Coastal to subalpine, in wetlands (0–1100 m a.s.l.), and associated slow flowing streams. Usually found partially submerged in or at the margins of pools and streams, where the plants tubers may be seen floating just above the sediment. It is often associated with the sedge genera Machaerina and Eleocharis (Cyperaceae) where it easily overlooked unless flowering.
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2023 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable | Qualifiers: DPT, PF, RR
Threats
This species has declined from most of its former coastal and lowland wetland haunts as a consequence of drainage, competition from weeds and on occasion excessive collection by botanists and plant collectors. Drainage is still the main threat to the majority of its remaining populations, several large ones of which are entirely on private land. Invasive weeds, particularly royal fern (Osmunda regalis) are a problem in Waikato. Previously recorded as Prasophyllum aff. patens (AK 236408; New Zealand) by de Lange et al. (2004).
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
Gastrodia hectorii Buchanan
Taxonomic notes
Until recently Prasophyllum hectorii has been known in New Zealand as P. patens R.Br. which is an Australian endemic. New Zealand plants have also been referred to P. suttonii Rogers et B.Rees, another Australian endemic.
Recent molecular and morphological studies, as yet unpublished suggest that the two New Zealand Prasophyllum will need to be placed in another, as yet undescribed, new genus (Peter Weston pers. comm. November 2014).
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
(November)– December–February
Fruiting
November–May
Propagation technique
Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
OBL: Obligate Wetland
Almost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands (non-wetlands).
Other information
Etymology
prasophyllum: From the Greek ‘prasos’ leek and phyllos ‘leaf’
hectorii: Named after Sir James Hector, 19th century New Zealand geologist and botanist who was originally from Scotland
Manaaki Whenua Online Interactive Key
Chromosome number
2n = 42
Previous conservation statuses
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: PD
2012 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: PD
2009 | At Risk – Relict | Qualifiers: CD, EF
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable
Regional conservation statuses
Auckland: 2025 | Regionally Extirpated | Qualifiers: EW
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Auckland conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation status of vascular plant species in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland” Simpkins E et al. (2025) report.
Referencing and citations
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.
Moore LB, Edgar E. 1970. Flora of New Zealand, Volume II. Indigenous Tracheophyta: Monocotyledones except Gramineae. Government Printer, Wellington, NZ. 354 p.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 14 April 2007. Description adapted from Moore and Edgar (1970).
Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Prasophyllum hectorii Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/prasophyllum-hectorii/ (Date website was queried)