New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
  • Member login
  • Join
Facebook
  • Home
  • Flora
    • Flora species
    • Vascular
    • Non Vascular
    • Plant identification
    • Fungi
    • Make your own book
    • Quiz
  • Threats
    • Exotic Plants (Weeds)
    • Pest Animals
    • Other threats
  • Ecosystems
    • Plant communities
    • Ecosystem services
    • Novel ecosystems
  • Publications
    • Documents
    • Newsletter
    • Plant lists
    • Botanical Society journals
    • NZPCN publications
  • Conservation
    • Seedbank
    • Training
    • Restoration
    • Monitoring
    • Habitat protection
    • Funding
    • Botanic gardens
  • NZPCN
    • News
    • Trilepidea newsletter
    • Events
    • Members
    • Council members
    • Awards
    • Shop
    • Donate
    • Favourite Plant
    • Why join NZPCN?
    • Join
  • Help
    • FAQ
    • Query
    • Glossary
  • Contact us

Search flora

You are here:
  1. Home
  2. Flora
  3. Flora species
  4. Pterostylis paludosa

Pterostylis paludosa

Close up of flower head.<br>Photographer: Ian St George, Licence: All rights reserved.
Photo by Nick Singers.<br>Photographer: Nicholas J. D. Singers, Licence: All rights reserved.
Photo by Nick Singers.<br>Photographer: Nicholas J. D. Singers, Licence: All rights reserved.
A photo by Nick Singers.<br>Photographer: Nicholas J. D. Singers, Licence: All rights reserved.
Photo by Nick Singers.<br>Photographer: Nicholas J. D. Singers, Licence: All rights reserved.
Plant at Whakapapa 12/12/96.<br>Photographer: Eric Scanlen, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Frontal shot from Whakapapa 12/12/96.<br>Photographer: Eric Scanlen, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Download PDF Comment on factsheet

NZPCN members can select up to 20 plant species and automatically create a full colour, fully illustrated A4 book describing them (in PDF format).

  • Find out more...
  • Join NZPCN...
iNaturalist NZ View observations Donate Support NZPCN

Common name

swamp greenhood

Synonyms

Pterostylis furcata var. linearis Hatch

Family

Orchidaceae

Authority

Pterostylis paludosa D.L.Jones, Molloy et M.A.Clem

Flora category

Vascular – Native

Endemic taxon

Yes

Endemic genus

No

Endemic family

No

Structural class

Orchids

Chromosome number

2n = 44

Current conservation status

  • Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017

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 – Declining | Qualifiers: RR

Previous conservation statuses

2009 | At Risk – Declining

2004 | Serious Decline

Distribution

Endemic: North, South and Stewart Islands. In the North Island present from Great Barrier Island to Waiouru. In the South Island confined to the west from north-west Nelson to about Westport.

Habitat

Peat bogs and heathlands, usually in well-lit sites amongst mosses and sedges.

Features

Terrestrial tuberous herb growing in dense colonies. Sterile plants 40-80 mm tall, 2-4-leaved; leaves linear-lanceolate, 25-60 x 7-11 mm, pale green to yellow-green (rarely dark green), margins entire or finely denticulate, apex subacute. Flowering plants 80-900 mm tall.Leaves 3-4, cauline, obliquely erect, pale green to yellowish green; lamina linear-lanceolate, 50-80 x 7-11 mm wide, sessile, sheathing at the base; margins entire or rarely finely denticulate; apex subacute. Pedicel 20-30 mm long, slender. Ovary 9-17 mm long, asymmetric, ribbed. Flower solitary, 18-20 x 5-6 mm, erect, translucent white and pale green to yellow green; galea gibbous at the base then erect before curving forwards in a shallow curve to the apex, the dorsal sepal slightly longer than the petals. Dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate in outline when flattened, 24-26 x 13-16 mm, prominently expanded in the proximal third then suddenly narrowed and gradually tapered to the acute apex. Lateral sepals erect, tightly embracing the galea, with no lateral gap; upper part of the sinus very shallowly curved when viewed from the side, sloping to a narrow v when viewed from the front, scabrous; conjoined part 9-11 x 6-9 mm wide at the top, narrowed to 4 mm wide at the base, tapered into the free points; free points 9-11 mm long, tapered, erect, the tips extending just above galea. Petals obliquely oblong-lanceolate, 14-20 x 305 mm, falcate, acute, green with a white central area; flange vestigial. Labellum erect, curved suddenly forwards near the apex, raised; basal appendage 2.5-3.0 mm long, decurved, apex penicillate. Column 11.0-13.5 mm long, erect, green and white; column foot 1.5 mm long. Column wings 5.5-7.0 mm long; basal lobe 3.0 x 0.8 mm, at an angle of about 40 degrees, apex obtuse, inner margins incurved, sparsely ciliate; mid-section 2.5 mm long; green; apical lobe linear 1.2 mm long, obtuse. Stigma cordate, 3.0-3.3 x 2.0-2.2 mm, situated just below the column wings, raised. Anther 1.4 mm long, obtuse. Pollinia linear, 2 mm long, yellow, mealy. Capsules narrowly ellipsoid 15-17 x 3.0-3.5 mm, initially yellow green, maturing grey.

Similar taxa

Pterostylis micromega Hook.f. and an unnamed swamp dwelling orchid allied to P. graminea Hook.f., grow with and may be confused with P. paludosa. When flowering P. paludosa and P. micromega are clearly different, but sterile specimens are harder to separate. Basal leaves of P. micromega are distinctly broader, spreading and have undulating margins. The basal leaves of the unnamed orchid allied to P. graminea are much smaller, finer, and grass-like. Flowering specimens are distinctive because the flowers are much smaller, and very conspicuously striped white and dark green.

Flowering

September to January

Flower colours

Green, White

Fruiting

November to March

Propagation technique

Easily grown in a pot partially submerged in water. However, as with all indigenous orchids, this species should not be removed from the wild.

Threats

Habitat loss through wetland drainage, and natural succession to taller vegetation. This species requires frequent disturbance to maintain itself. It is especially abundant following peat fires. The species is also at risk from plant collectors.

Etymology

pterostylis: Winged column

paludosa: Of the swamps

Where To Buy

Not commercially available.

Attribution

Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 14 April 2007: Description based on Jones et al. (1997).

References and further reading

Jones, D.L.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Clements, M.A. 1997: Six new species of Pterostylis R.Br. (Orchidaceae) from New Zealand. The Orchadian 12: 266-281.

Citation

Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Pterostylis paludosa Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/pterostylis-paludosa/ (Date website was queried)

▲ Back to top
  • Home
  • Flora
  • Threats
  • Ecosystems
  • Publications
  • Conservation
  • NZPCN
  • Help
  • Contact us

© 2022 New Zealand Plant Conservation Network • Website by RS

Coastlands Plant Nursery Wildlands

Website sponsor

  • Home
  • Flora
    • Flora species
    • Vascular
      • Ferns
        • King fern
        • True ferns
        • Adder's tongue ferns
        • Fork ferns and whisk ferns
        • Horsetails
      • Conifers
        • Celery pines
        • Kauri
        • Podocarps
          • Podocarpus
          • Dacrydium
          • Prumnopitys
          • Dacrycarpus
          • Halocarpus
          • Lepidothamnus
          • Manoao
        • Cypress
      • Flowering plants
        • Parasites
          • Leafy mistletoes
          • Pygmy mistletoes
            • Korthalsella flowers
            • Korthalsella hosts
            • Dispersal of Korthalsella
            • Associates of Korthalsella
          • Root parasites
          • Saprophytes
        • Epiphytes
          • NZ
            • Typical
            • Occasional
            • Hemi-epiphytes
            • Ephemeral
            • NZ list
        • Monocots
          • Orchids
            • Structure
          • Grasses
        • Dicots
          • Hebes
          • Kowhai
          • Coprosma
          • Beech
          • Rata
        • Carnivorous
        • Deciduous plants
        • Aquatic plants
      • Poisonous plants
        • Poisons in the garden
        • Poisonous food plants
        • Poisonous natives
      • Threatened plant lists
      • What's a vascular plant?
      • Club mosses
    • Non Vascular
      • Bryophytes
        • Liverworts
        • Mosses
        • Hornworts
      • Algae
        • Seaweeds
      • Lichens
    • Plant identification
      • Written descriptions
      • Experts
      • Plant keys
        • Key to parasitic plant genera
      • Collecting plants
        • Should I collect
        • Choosing a specimen
        • Field notes
        • Fresh plant material
        • Pressing and drying
        • Mounting specimens
        • Labelling specimens
    • Fungi
    • Make your own book
    • Quiz
  • Threats
    • Exotic Plants (Weeds)
      • Unwanted organisms
      • DOC weeds
      • Plant me instead
      • Pest Plant Accord
    • Pest Animals
      • Mammals
        • Mustelids
        • Rodents
        • Ungulates
        • Possums
      • Fish
      • Insects
    • Other threats
      • Natural events
        • Insects
      • Human induced
        • Habitat loss
        • Collection
        • Climate change
  • Ecosystems
    • Plant communities
      • Dunes
        • Volcanic
        • Coastal
          • Threats
          • Common species
          • Research on dunes
          • Pingao research
          • What you can do
      • Wetlands
        • Estuaries
          • Common estuarine species
          • Research on estuaries
        • Ephemeral
        • Restiad peat bogs
      • Forests
        • Kauri-podocarp-broadleaved
        • Podocarp broadleaved
        • Beech
      • Scrub/shrublands
        • Geothermal
          • Distribution of geothermal vegetation
          • Geothermal plants
          • Geothermal vegetation types
          • Threats to geothermal vegetation
        • Frost flat/hollow
        • Manuka fens
        • Gumlands
      • Grasslands
        • Tussock grasslands
      • Bare ground
        • Braided rivers
        • Alpine
        • Cliff
        • Scree and boulderfields
        • Shingle beaches
      • Herbfields
        • Saltpan
    • Ecosystem services
    • Novel ecosystems
  • Publications
    • Documents
    • Newsletter
    • Plant lists
      • Plant lists by region
      • National plant lists
      • How to prepare a plant list
    • Botanical Society journals
    • NZPCN publications
  • Conservation
    • Seedbank
      • Project 1 - Pohutukawa, Rata and Myrtaceae
      • Project 2 - Alpine flora and the Forget-Me-Nots
      • Project 3 - Kowhai and its relatives
      • Project 4 - Podocarps and trees of the forest
    • Training
      • Module 1: Plant life
      • Module 2: Covenants
      • Module 3: Propagation
      • Module 4: Wetlands
      • Pilot course 2006
      • Request a course
    • Restoration
      • Gardening
        • Being weed wise
        • Garden plants
          • Trees and shrubs
          • Broad-leaved herbs
          • Grass-like herbs
          • Climbers
          • Ferns
        • Attracting wildlife
        • Planting for lizards
          • Rules
      • Species recovery
        • Plant translocations
      • Ecological restoration
        • Case studies
          • Tavora Reserve
          • Waiwhakareke
      • Revegetation
      • Eco-sourcing
      • Find a restoration group
    • Monitoring
      • Number count
        • Number count method
        • Pros and cons of number counts
        • Data analysis and interpretation
      • Presence/absence surveys
        • Presence/absence survey methods
        • Pros and cons of presence/absence surveys
        • Data analysis and interpretation
      • Mapping spatial extent
        • Spatial extent mapping methods
        • Pros and cons of spatial extent mapping
        • Data analysis and interpretation
      • Photo points
        • Photo point guidelines
    • Habitat protection
      • Legal protection
        • Nga Whenua Rahui
        • QEII covenants
        • DOC Covenants
      • Animal pest control
      • Weed control
      • Fencing
    • Funding
    • Botanic gardens
  • NZPCN
    • News
    • Trilepidea newsletter
    • Events
      • Conference 2022
        • 2022 conference postponement
        • 2022 conference field trips
        • 2022 conference workshops
        • Code of conduct
        • COVID-19 information
        • 2022 conference sponsors
        • Abstract and poster submission
        • 2022 Conference venue and accommodation
      • Conference 2019
      • Conference 2017
      • Conference 2015
        • Speakers
        • Workshops
        • Field trips
        • Charity auction
      • Conference 2013
        • Speakers
        • Timetable
    • Members
    • Council members
      • NZPCN council member profiles
      • Council 2013
      • Council 2012
      • Council 2011
      • Council 2010
      • Council 2009
      • Council 2008
      • Council 2007
      • Council 2006
      • Council 2005
      • Council 2004
      • Council 2003
    • Awards
      • NZPCN Annual Awards
        • 2019
        • 2018
        • 2017
        • 2016
        • 2015
        • 2014
        • 2013
        • 2012
        • 2011
        • 2010
        • 2009
        • 2008
        • 2007
        • 2006
        • 2005
      • David Given Scholarship
        • David Given Scholarship Recipients
    • Shop
    • Donate
    • Favourite Plant
    • Why join NZPCN?
    • Join
  • Help
    • FAQ
      • Joining the Network
      • The Network
      • Network website
      • New Zealand plants
      • The law
      • Your discoveries
    • Query
    • Glossary
  • Contact us