Microtis
(little ear - the auricles at the side of the column)

This is a difficult genus for amateurs, since the specific differences are literally microscopic. 5 species are recorded for NZ, but I will only mention 2 of them.

Small green plants with small green flowers. The leaf is hollow, cf Corunastylis, and the various species look very much alike.

While most of them are plants of bogs and stream edges, Microtis unifolia can grow almost anywhere.

Microtis unifolia
(single leaf - they all have!)

Distribution - ± common throughout Australia and northward into Asia.
New Zealand - Three Kings Is., Great and Little Barrier Is., North, South, Stewart and Chatham Is.

Flowers - October - January
- insect and / or self pollinated.

Microtis oligantha
(the few-flowered spike)

Up to 4, loosely arranged flowers on conspicuously slender pedicels, dorsal sepal rotund, obtuse.

Distribution - Endemic - North Id., from Mount Tarawera southwards: South Id., Chatham Is.

Flowers - December - February
- self pollinated.

Orthoceras
novae-zeelandiae
(of New Zealand)

A plant of open spaces, gum-clay, scoria etc. with a rosette of linear leaves.

Flowers several, varying from dark green, through pale green to yellow, the semi-erect lateral sepals most conspicuous.

Distribution - Endemic - North Id., throughout. South Id., Sounds / Nelson district.

Flowers - December - February
- insect pollinated.