Taeniophyllum northlandicum
Common names
New Zealand spaghetti orchid
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
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 Critical | Qualifiers: DPT
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Orchids
Flower colours
Green, Yellow
Detailed description
Diminutive epiphytic orchid; plant 30–50 mm diameter, growing tightly appressed to bark in moist, well lighted to semi-shaded situations. Roots terete, fleshy, swollen, c. 1.0–1.5 mm diameter, up to 25 mm long, pale green to yellow-green. Leaves reduced to caducous scales on inflorescence. Inflorescence a 1–6-flowered raceme; raceme 15–25 mm long, bracteose, peduncle and rhacis capillary, zig-zagged between flower; bracts minute, narrowly ovate, caducous. Sepals and petals greenish yellow, fleshy, scarcely opening, and only then in the upper ½–⅓. Dorsal sepal 3.5 × 0.5 mm. Lateral sepals 3.2 × 0.6 mm. Petals 3.2 × 0.6 mm. Labellum 1.5 mm long, scaphoid, 3.2–3.3 mm long, minutely 3-lobed, bearing minute apical appendage; spur c. 1.3 mm long. Capsule ellipsoidal, 6 mm long.
Similar taxa
Easily recognised by seemingly leafless, greenish roots from which arise (in the appropriate season) small greenish-yellow flowers. Plants could only be confused with Drymoanthus which has rather similar looking roots, but which differs by the white (not green) roots, and by possessing large, conspicuous leaves.
Previously, as Taeniophyllum norfolkianum, Beadel et al. (2010) noted that the flowers of New Zealand specimens were 7–10 mm long, this is much larger than the range given by Jones (2006) for that Norfolk Island endemic and that of the specimens they lodged of T. northlandicum in the Auckland Museum Herbarium. The measurements given in the description here are based on those herbarium specimens. At the time the size ranges given were still larger than those given by Jones (2006) of T. norfolkianum suggesting that the exact identity of New Zealand plants may require further investigation. Rice (2019) described the New Zealand plant as a new endemic species, noting that it differs from T. norfolkianum in its growth habit, root size (10–25 × 1.0–1.5 mm cf. 15–60 × 1.2 mm), warty rather smooth raceme axis, with plants producing fewer flowers (1–6 cf. 5–12 flowers). The flowers of T. northlandicum have a saccate rather spurred labellum base, and longer, more slender and triangular petal and sepals than the shortly ovate to sub hastate petals and sepals seen in T. norfolkianum. Finally the labellum of T. northlandicum is prominently 3-lobed and furnished with a longer, thicker, recurved apical horn at the lip apex (indistinctly 3-lobed, horn slimmer, upright, non-recurved in T. norfolkianum).
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: North Island (Northland).
Habitat
This species has been recorded twice only in New Zealand, with the initial discovery being made south of Whangarei in late 2009 and the more recent discovery being made in the far north near Kaitaia in December 2021. So far, this species has been recorded from the upper trunk and branches of gorse (Ulex europaeus) at one site and on feijoa (Acca sellowiana) and southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) at the other.
Threats
The first discovered population occurs on private land within a gorse-dominated shrubland and silver fern (Cyathea dealbata) - mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus subsp. ramiflorus) forest remnant south of Whangarei. At this stage the species is not known to be directly threatened within this habitat though it is vulnerable to fire. The second population is on a privatey owned lifestyle property surrounded by regenerating native forest and also does not appear to be under any direct threat. As Taeniophyllum is very small and easily overlooked it is likely that it occurs elsewhere in northern New Zealand. In the belief that this orchid was Taeniophyllum norfolkianum it was assessed in 2012 and again in 2017 as “Non-resident Native – Coloniser | Qualifiers: DP, OL, TO”. In reality, as there have been no further surveys for this species since 2010, and the habitat it was found in is privately owned and was being cleared this orchid merits an assessment of “Data Deficient”.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
November
Fruiting
Unknown
Propagation technique
Difficult - should be left in the wild
Other information
Manaaki Whenua Online Interactive Key
Chromosome number
n = 19II 2n = 38
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 | Non-resident Native – Coloniser | Qualifiers: DP, OL, TO
2012 | Non-resident Native – Coloniser | Qualifiers: DP, OL, TO
2009 | Data Deficient
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Beadel S, Renner M, Brandes U. 2010. A new species of epiphytic orchid for New Zealand, near Whangarei. Trilepidea 82: 3–4.
Green, P.S. 1994: Flora of Australia 49, Oceanic Islands 1. ABRS/CSIRO Victoria, Australia.
Jones DL. 2006. A complete guide to the native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Sydney, New Holland Publishers Ltd. 496 p.
Rice R. 2020. Introduction to the Australian & New Zealand Bulbophyllum & Vandaceous Orchids (with other observations in subtribe Aeridinae). Nature & Travel Books, Sydney.
Attribution
Facrt Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P. J. de Lange 27 September 2010 based on New Zealand specimens.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Taeniophyllum northlandicum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/taeniophyllum-northlandicum/ (Date website was queried)