Remember Ian Reid's remarkable pix of Thelymitra formosa with dazzlingly bright red cilia in Journal 100: P 27?
This is a taxon from the Opuatia Wetland at about 20m altitude and Ian had these modest words to say about it.
"A recent thumb through of archived prints and negatives of Thelymitra orchids, raised questions about the taxonomic identity of certain plants discovered flowering on the dome of the Opuatia wetland, back in the summers of the 1980s and '90s.
"Plant photography was my bent; it developed my interest in native orchids. With the Hamilton Junior Naturalists, I discovered Te Kauri Park in the Kawhia district - a rich source of orchid species.
Peter de Lange was a vigorous Junat. Later, while he was studying at Waikato University, he led me to Opuatia wetland. He spotted the taxon in question here and expressed his opinion that it might be Thelymitra formosa.
"I accepted without question, Peter de Lange's botanical tutelage. He led me and others into the wetland and inspired efforts to discover and identify specimens in the jungle-like sedge swamp. Early December, in sunny or even cloudy weather, we found open flowers.
"T. formosa among the wild grass and ferns on the dome of the swamp, is only one of the exciting orchid taxa we studied. Bev Woolley from Hamilton, usually wallowed and brushed through the thick profusion with me to the drier dome, often sighting unknown orchid specimens beyond our energy and reach, and always wet.
"I am grateful now, in 2006, to the real author and investigator, namely 'The Column', who has minutely observed the old negative material proffered from my archive set and presented evidence gleaned on this taxon's identity."
This T. formosa taxon will still be there in 2006 along with other remarkable orchid taxa also deserving far more attention such as that hypochromic Prasophyllum hectorii [J93:9] which impressed Ian with its metres long roots, an alba form of Thelymitra cyanea [J100:27] also Peter de Lange's Pterostylis "Sphagnum" and white Spiranthes novae-zelandiae [J70:17]. However, the Column has been in no fit state to pursue these treasures for the last two years much as he is champing at the bit to get amongst them. Next year!
On his prints, Ian pointed out the undeniable evidence of the column, on his T. formosa "Opuatia", being different from those of the regular forms of this normally subalpine species. Not only are the column tops and cilia that bright red but they sprout similar cilia on the post anther margins as one can see in Figs.24, 25 below.
Bob Talbot had a similar flower from 260m altitude at Ngaere Swamp, East Egmont, as one can see on the cover of Ian St George's Nature Guide but whether Bob's one had cilia on the side lobules is not clear from the photo. Ngaere Swamp has been drained so the very existence of that colony is now in grave doubt. |
