Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asparagales Link
Family
Orchidaceae Juss.
Genus
Waireia D.L.Jones, M.A.Clem. & Molloy
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Waireia stenopetala (Hook.f.) D.L.Jones, M.A.Clem. & Molloy, 12: 283 (1997)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Thelymitra stenopetala Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. I. (Fl. Antarct.) Part I, 69 (1844)
  • ≡ Thelymitra longifolia var. stenopetala (Hook.f.) Hatch, Trans. & Proc. Roy. Soc. New Zealand 79: 396 (1952)
  • = Lyperanthus antarcticus Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. I. (Fl. Antarct.) Part II, 544 (1847)
Vernacular Name(s):
Beak orchid; Horizontal orchid
 Description

Plant at fl. c. 8–30–(40) cm. tall, not elongating greatly in fr. Stem erect, slightly fleshy, glab. Green lvs us. 2, occ. 1 or 3, well spaced up stem, to 10–(15) × 1.5–(2) cm., narrow-lanceolate, concave, acute, inclined to be fleshy, sts blotched with brown, the upper smaller. Floral bracts foliaceous, erect, broad-ovate, deeply concave, acute. Fls rarely > 3, inclined away from bracts. Per. c. 1.5 cm. long, green, sts spotted with dull red-brown. Sepals acute; dorsal broadly ovate, forming arched roof over inner parts; lateral almost as long, linear, deflexed. Petals slightly shorter, linear-lanceolate, subacute. Labellum erect, broad-ovate, narrowed abruptly into short claw; margin entire; callose ridges extending almost to tip. Column cylindric, curved; wing very narrow, forming small lobes about anther.

[From: Moore and Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 2 as Lyperanthus antarcticus Hook.f.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
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]
Hatch, E.D. 1952: The New Zealand Forms of Thelymitra J. R. and G. Forster and Appendices. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 79: 386–402.
Hooker, J.D. 1844–1845: 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. I. Flora Antarctica. Part I. Botany of Lord Auckland’s Group and Campbell’s Island. Reeve, Brothers, London.
Hooker, J.D. 1845–1847 ("1847"): 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. I. Flora Antarctica. Part II. Botany of Fuegia, the Falklands, Kerguelen's Land, etc. Reeve, Brothers, London.
Jones, D.L.; Clements, M. A.; Molloy, B. P. J. 1997: Waireia, a new genus of Orchidaceae from New Zealand. The Orchadian 12(6): 282–287.