Fact Sheets For Indigenous New Zealand Orchids Completed
At present New Zealand has 104 formally recognised indigenous orchids. At the request of NZPCN members fact sheets for all 104 orchid taxa are now fully populated. NZPCN recognise that the taxonomy of New Zealand orchids is in a state of flux and that some of the genera we have used are the subject of dispute, e.g., Petalochilus vs Caladenia. Thus, where possible full synonymies are given. Also our decisions to use particular genera follows the advice given by those people most closely associated with the revision of the family in Australia and New Zealand. In most cases we have been able to source our descriptions to available literature and these sources are provided. In some cases we have had to significantly modify these descriptions, and in a few cases resort to using herbarium specimens either for clarification or as the sole source of information on which to base our descriptions. NZPCN also provide a description for the nothotaxon Thelymitra xdentata because that hybrid is treated as a species in the New Zealand Flora series Vol. II published in 1970 and which is still the only official Flora compendium of New Zealand orchid knowledge available. In preparing these fact sheets we accept that many of the species we have treated are species aggregates, e.g., Nematoceras rivulare, Pterostylis montana, and that the status of some others is doubtful, e.g, Nematoceras panduratum. It is not the responsibility of the NZPCN to make taxonomic adjustments, and we do not believe in providing fact sheets for unnamed entities. For information on these, and for opinions on the status of other New Zealand orchid species we suggest website users examine literature published by the New Zealand Native Orchid Group.For help with these fact sheets we would like to thank Peter J. de Lange, Brian P. J. Molloy, Ian St George, David L. Jones, Mark A. Clements and Jeff Jeanes for their advice and access to their unpublished notes and images. NZPCN acknowledge the staff at the Auckland War Memorial Museum Herbarium (AK) for allowing access to specimens and assistance with finding key literature.
Posted: 04/05/2007