Journal Number 110
November 2008

ORIGINAL PAPERS

Orchids of Arthurs Pass and Otira River Areas
ED 53.2 and 50.02
By Gordon Sylvester

My article on this area published in Journal 109 referred to the information I had accumulated
from various sources. Our Editor pointed out to me another article that was not referred to:
I had located the week before he emailed the relevant information to me. In order to make the
information for the area as complete as possible the lists below are now appended for your
information.

A checklist published in the New Zealand Journal of Botany 1986 vol 24: 9-68 by C. J Burrows
listed several species. This is the third such list I have seen for this general area.

Over several years commencing 2004 I have briefly looked at roadsides to gain an insight in
the orchid populations. While there has never been any attempt to penetrate more than 80m
from the roadside, I have noted the following species; the general site of the record is also
recorded.

Kelly's Stream 2007

Otira Valley above Pegleg Bend

Temple Basin Car park and ski field lift areas

I have not seen Pterostylis venosa but have no reason to doubt is authenticity

Burrows recorded in 1989

Other records have included

1893 Petrie D. Proc.N.Z.I XXVI 266-279
Kelly's Creek:
Gastrodia sesamoides; Pterostylis oliveri.

1929 RM Laing & WRB Oliver Trans R.S.N.Z. 59 715-730
Upper Bealey River:
Chiloglottis cornuta; Aporostylis bifolia; Gastrodia cunninghamii; Prasophyllum colensoi;
Lyperanthus antarcticus; Pterostylis oliveri; Thelymitra unifolia; Corybas trilobus; Caladenia lyallii;
Corybas rotundifolius; Pterostylis areolata.

1935 Laing and Gourlay H.W. Trans R.S.N.Z. 64 1-10
Bealey River Basin:
Pterostylis graminea; Pterostylis australis; Pterostylis banksii; Microtis unifolia; Thelymitra hatchii.

1962 C.J. Burrows Trans.R.S.N.Z. Bot. 1 (15) 195-216
Waimakariri Basin:
Aporostylis bifolia; Corybas oblongus; Corybas trilobus; Corybas macranthus; Lyperanthus antarticus;
Microtis magnadenia; Microtis parviflora; Microtis unifolia; Pterostylis australis; Pt. areolata; Pt. mutica;
Pt. oliveri; Pt. graminea; Pt. montana; Pt. irsoniana; Pt cynocephala; Pt. venosa; Chiloglottis cornuta;
Thelymitra venosa; Thelymitra pachyphylla; Thelymitra uniflora; Thelymitra longifolia; Caladenia lyallii;
Prasophyllum colensoi; Adenochilis gracilis; Acianthus reniformis; Gastrodia cunninghamii.

Var dates 2007 1988 Gordon Sylvester and Thom Pendrigh unpublished data
Greynes Shelter and Track:
Nematoceras trilobum; Chiloglottis cornuta; Pterostylis oliveri; Pterostylis graminea agg; Pterostylis irsoniana.

Scotts Track: 1988 Thom Pendrigh NZNOG Journ 25:11
Townsonia deflexa; Thelymitra hatchii;Pterostylis oliveri: Pterostylis banksii X Pterostylis oliveri.

Bridal Veil Falls Track: 1988 Thom Pendrigh NZNOG Journ 25:11
Aporostylis bifolia; Prasophyllum colensoi; Townsonia deflexa; Nematoceras trilobum; Pterostylis oliveri;
Waireia stenopetala.

Orchid species recorded in the Arthurs Pass area ED 50.02 and 53.02 covering
the area from Aikens to Grassmere Lodge.