Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asparagales Link
Family
Orchidaceae Juss.
Genus
Prasophyllum R.Br.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Prasophyllum colensoi Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. II. (Fl. Nov.-Zel.) Part I, 241 (1853)
Synonymy:
  • = Prasophyllum pauciflorum Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 18: 273 (1885 [1886])
Vernacular Name(s):
Leek orchid
 Description

Plant at fl. 10–25 cm. tall. Tuber short-ovoid, adjacent to or occ. to c. 1 cm. away from tuber of previous year. Stem erect, ± fleshy. Lf often overtopping raceme; lamina terete, acute. Raceme of c. 5–20 evenly spaced fls, all ± fleshy. Per. reddish- or yellowish-green, two colour forms sts occurring together. Dorsal sepal c. 5 mm. long, ovate, concave, sts recurved; laterals slightly longer, narrower, weakly connate in bud and us. remaining so at least near base, fleshy and channelled, tip often minutely cucullate and shortly apiculate, so appearing bidentate. Petals a little shorter, wider, more delicate. Labellum of similar length, narrow at base and almost sessile, occ. shortly clawed, ovate, recurved but not abruptly so; margin entire, smooth to undulate; callus extending as an irregularly thickened median band almost to the narrowly subacute tip. Lateral processes of column bilobed, anterior lobe membr. and slightly shorter than anther; posterior lobe much smaller and ± callus-like. Anther sessile, just overtopped by rostellum. Stigma barely its own height above column-base.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Nov.–Feb.

 Bibliography
Colenso, W. 1886 ("1885"): A description of some newly-discovered and rare indigenous plants: being a further contribution towards the making known the botany of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 18: 256–287.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Hooker, J.D. 1852–1853 ("1853"): The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage of H.M. Discovery Ships Erebus and Terror in the Years 1839–1843, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross. II. Flora Novae-Zelandiae. Part I. Flowering plants. Lovell Reeve, London.
Jones, D.L. 1996: Resolution of the Prasophyllum alpinum R.Br. (Orchidaceae) complex in mainland south-eastern Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. Muelleria 9: 51–62.
Parsons, M.J.; Douglass, P.; Macmillan, B.H. 1998: Current Names List for wild Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons (except Grasses) of New Zealand as used in Herbarium CHR. Version 1, to 31 Dec 1995. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand.