Corybas sanctigeorgianus

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Corybas sanctigeorgianus
Corybas sanctigeorgianus 159803457.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Corybas
Species:
C. sanctigeorgianus
Binomial name
Corybas sanctigeorgianus

Corybas sanctigeorgianus is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. [1] [2] It is part of the C. trilobus aggregate, whose members are characterized by a funnel or dish-shaped labellum and an often heart or kidney-shaped solitary leaf. [2]

Contents

Description

Corybas sanctigeorgianus with leaf. Corybas sanctigeorgianus 224939823.jpg
Corybas sanctigeorgianus with leaf.

Corybas sanctigeorgianus is a terrestrial, perennial herb with a solitary reniform (kidney-shaped) to cordiform (heart-shaped) leaf born on a petiole that is 9.8–12.7 mm long. The leaf itself is 10.0–13.2 mm × 14.0–19.0 mm; its apex ends in a sharp point. The single flower is held on a small peduncle with a short floral bract that is oval-shaped when flattened. The dorsal sepal is green, sometimes splotched with maroon, and arches over the labellum and is broadly rounded at the apex, although sometimes it is mucronate. The dorsal sepal is characteristically longer than the labellum. The lateral sepals are long and filiform (thread-like); they are crystalline white with crimson specks. The petals are similar but slightly longer. The labellum is predominantly white with dark red; it may be vertically streaked with red. It is covered in short trichomes and is auriculate (forming two lobes) at the base. The notch between the two lobes is 1.7–2.0 mm wide. The lip is strongly downturned; it folds inwards and forms a central groove, and its sides are slightly cupped. The margins are mostly entire, except for the tip, which is toothed. The column is straight with square wings on both sides of the stigma. Flowering occurs from mid-August to September. [2] [3]

The dorsal sepal length is a useful identifying characteristic. C. sanctigeorgianus resembles C. hypogaeus in flower and leaf shape and may be distinguished by its dorsal sepal that extends beyond its labellum; it also differs in its straight ovary and predominantly white labellum (excluding the margins). From C. trilobus, it may also be distinguished by its dorsal sepal length, as well as the white, rather than translucent green, labellum.

Taxonomy

Corybas sanctigeorgianus was first described by Carlos Adolfo Lehnebach in 2016, having been split off from C. trilobus. Using Bayesian and maximum parsimony analyses, Lehnebach inferred that C. sanctigeorgianus was indeed part of the C. trilobus aggregate. The specific epithet (sanctigeorgianus) refers to Ian Saint George, who has authored multiple guides to New Zealand-native orchids and is co-editor of the New Zealand Native Orchid Journal . [4] [2]

Distribution and habitat

Corybas sanctigeorgianus is endemic to the Hunua Ranges of New Zealand's North Island and grows in leaf litter under scrub or podocarp-broadleaved forest, gravelly soil, or the decaying trunks of tree ferns. [2]

Conservation

Corybas sanctigeorgianus was proposed to be listed as Nationally Critical under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. At the time of publication, it was known only from its type locality, the Hunua Ranges, where a population of about one hundred individuals occurs; a second population was noted to exist in the 1960s but had been lost. [2] Subsequently, a new population, also in the Hunua Ranges, was found, and the species has yet to be ratified by the Threat Listing panel. [3] Threats to C. sanctigeorgiaus include deforestation. [2] [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Corybas</i> (plant) Genus of orchids

Corybas, commonly known as helmet orchids, is a genus of about 120 species of plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Helmet orchids are small, perennial, deciduous herbs and are nearly always terrestrial. They have a single leaf at their base and a single flower on a short stalk, the flower dominated by its large dorsal sepal and labellum. Species of Corybas are found in Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, southern China, many Pacific islands and a few sub-Antarctic islands.

<i>Corybas hispidus</i> Species of orchid

Corybas hispidus, commonly known as the bristly helmet orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It is distinguished from other helmet orchids by its autumn to winter flowering period, and by its labellum, which has a bristly-hairy, creamy-white centre and is deeply notched along its top edge.

Corybas abditus, commonly known as the swamp helmet orchid or small helmet orchid , is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to Western Australia. It is a rare orchid with a single bluish green, heart-shaped leaf and a small flower with an enlarged dorsal sepal and tube-shaped labellum.

<i>Corybas acuminatus</i> Species of orchid

Corybas acuminatus, commonly known as the dancing spider orchid or helmet flower, is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to New Zealand. It has a triangular, sharply pointed leaf and a small translucent, greenish-white flower with purple markings and with very long sepals. It is found on both the main islands of New Zealand and also some of the off-shore islands.

<i>Corybas barbarae</i> Species of orchid

Corybas barbarae, commonly known as fairy lanterns, is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to eastern Australia including Lord Howe Island. It has a single dark green or reddish green, heart-shaped leaf and a small sparkling white or pinkish flower with an inflated dorsal sepal obscuring its hairy labellum.

<i>Corybas cheesemanii</i> Species of orchid


Corybas cheesemanii, commonly known as Cheesemans spider orchid or spurred helmet orchid, is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to New Zealand. It is a small orchid with a single pale green, heart-shaped leaf and usually only a single flower variously coloured from maroon to completely white. It usually grows in deep shade, often in deep leaf litter and flowers in autumn and winter.

<i>Corybas confusus</i> Species of orchid

Corybas confusus, commonly known as the spider orchid is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to New Zealand. It has a single heart-shaped leaf and a single dark green or light green flower with reddish maroon streaks and blotches and long, thread-like lateral sepals and petals. It grows in highland areas on both main islands.

<i>Corybas cryptanthus</i> Species of orchid

Corybas cryptanthus, commonly known as the hidden spider orchid or icky, is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to New Zealand. It has no obvious leaves and the mostly white flower is usually buried in leaf litter. The plant is usually only detected by its fruiting capsule which is borne on a stem which elongates up to 280 mm (10 in) high.

Corybas expansus, commonly known as the flared helmet orchid or dune helmet orchid is a species of terrestrial orchid that is endemic to South Australia. It has a heart-shaped to more or less round leaf and a single purplish flower with greenish or transparent areas.

Corybas fordhamii, commonly known as the banded helmet orchid or swamp helmet orchid, is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has an egg-shaped to heart-shaped leaf and a reddish to reddish purple flower which leans forward. It is similar to C. unguiculatis which does not grow in swamps and has a different labellum.

Corybas montanus, commonly known as the montane helmet orchid, is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to Queensland. It forms small colonies and has single heart-shaped to round leaf and a reddish, self-pollinating flower with a curved dorsal sepal. It is only known from the Mount Barney National Park in south-east Queensland.

<i>Corybas vitreus</i> Species of plant

Corybas vitreus is a species of orchid endemic to New Zealand, and first described in 2016 by Carlos Adolfo Lehnebach.

<i>Corybas oblongus</i> Species of orchid

Corybas oblongus is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to New Zealand. It has a solitary oval-shaped leaf, often patterned with maroon, and a reddish-purple and white flower with a fimbriate labellum.

<i>Corybas obscurus</i> Species of orchid

Corybas obscurus is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to New Zealand. It has a solitary heart-shaped leaf and a deep crimson or nearly black flower and is part of the Corybas trilobus aggregate.

<i>Corybas trilobus</i> Species of orchid

Corybas trilobus is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to New Zealand. It is part of the C. trilobus aggregate, whose members are characterized by a funnel or dish-shaped labellum and an often heart or kidney-shaped solitary leaf.

<i>Corybas hatchii</i> Species of orchid

Corybas hatchii is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to New Zealand. It has a solitary rounded leaf, often flecked with maroon, and a single pale green and maroon flower with long, threadlike lateral sepals and petals.

<i>Corybas hypogaeus</i> Species of orchid

Corybas hypogaeus is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to the New Zealand. It is part of the C. trilobus aggregate, whose members are characterized by a funnel or dish-shaped labellum and an often heart or kidney-shaped solitary leaf.

<i>Corybas iridescens</i> Species of orchid

Corybas iridescens is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to the New Zealand. It has a solitary fleshy oval-shaped leaf and a single deep crimson flower, sometimes accompanied with green, with a tapering dorsal sepal.

<i>Corybas papillosus</i> Species of orchid

Corybas papillosus is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to the New Zealand. It has a solitary rounded leaf with a heart-shaped base and a single flower with a long, slender green dorsal sepal, as well as a crimson and white labellum.

<i>Corybas papa</i> Species of orchid

Corybas papa is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. It has a solitary wedge-shaped leaf and single translucent green flower with a strongly deflexed labellum and slender, threadlike lateral sepals and petals.

References

  1. 1 2
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lehnebach, Carlos A.; Zeller, Andreas J.; Frericks, Jonathan; Ritchie, Peter (2016-08-12). "Five new species of Corybas (Diurideae, Orchidaceae) endemic to New Zealand and phylogeny of the Nematoceras clade". Phytotaxa. 270 (1): 1. doi: 10.11646/phytotaxa.270.1.1 . ISSN   1179-3163. S2CID   89063404.
  3. 1 2 3 "Corybas sanctigeorgianus". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  4. "NZNOG Journals - New Zealand (NZ) Native Orchids". www.nativeorchids.co.nz. Retrieved 2021-07-19.