Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asparagales Link
Family
Orchidaceae Juss.
 Subordinate Taxa
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Orthoceras R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. 316 (1810)
 Description

Raceme of few to many fls; floral bracts heavy in texture and often exceeding ovary at fl. Per. glab.; dorsal sepal uppermost, broad and arched over column; lateral sepals much longer, very narrow-linear, channelled; petals short, narrow and ± hidden under dorsal sepal. Labellum almost as large as dorsal sepal, sessile, 3-lobed; callus thick, median. Column short; wings in form of 2 free lateral processes; anther dorsal, taller than stigma, pollinia ill-defined, pollen granular; stigma disc-shaped; rostellum prominent, acute. Plants terrestrial, glab.; tuber long-ovoid, us. produced close to the previous one. Lvs several, sheathing at base, narrow, followed by foliaceous cauline bracts. Monotypic genus, confined to Australia, New Caledonia and N.Z.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
Number of species in New Zealand within Orthoceras R.Br.
CategoryNumber
Indigenous (Endemic)1
Total1
 Bibliography
Brown, R. 1810: Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen. Johnson, London.
Clements, M.A. 1989: Catalogue of Australian Orchidaceae. Australian Orchid Research 1: 1–160.
Mabberley, D.J. 2008: Mabberley's plant book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Edition 3. Cambridge University Press.