Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asparagales Link
Family
Orchidaceae Juss.
 Subordinate Taxa
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Acianthus R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. 321 (1810)
 Description

Raceme of few to many fls; floral bracts membr. to foliaceous. Per. glab.; dorsal sepal uppermost, concave, ± arched over column; lateral sepals and petals narrower. Labellum shortly if at all clawed, undivided and with entire margins and 2 basal calli. Column semi-terete, incurved above; anther standing at least partly above stigma, pollinia mealy; stigma prominent; rostellum us. 2-lobed. Plants terrestrial, glab.; tubers small, globose, the new ones often remote from the parent plant. Green lf solitary, petiolate on non-flowering stems, sessile on flowering stem; lamina short and broad, length rarely 2 × width.

[From: Moore and Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 2.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
Number of species in New Zealand within Acianthus R.Br.
CategoryNumber
Indigenous (Endemic)1
Total1
 Bibliography
Brown, R. 1810: Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen. Johnson, London.
Jones, D.L.; Clements, M. A. 1987: Reinstatement of the genus Cyrtostylis R. Br. and its relationship with Acianthus R. Br. (Orchidaceae). Lindleyana; Scientific Journal of the American Orchid Society 2(3): 156–160.
Kores, P.J. 1995: A systematic study of the genus Acianthus (Orchidaceae: Diurideae). Allertonia 7(3): 87–220.
Mabberley, D.J. 2008: Mabberley's plant book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Edition 3. Cambridge University Press.