Spiranthes
(the flowers spiralling round the spike)

A very wide-ranging genus of swamps and bogs.

Spiranthes novaezelandiae
(of New Zealand)

Leaves ± in a basal rosette, flowers pink or white.

Distribution - Endemic - North, South, Stewart and Chatham Is.

Flowers - December - February.

Townsonia
(for William Townson)

A rhizomatous genus of 2 species; one, T.viridis, in Tasmania, one in NZ.

Townsonia deflexa
(the deflexed lateral sepals)

Petiolate leaves rising from the rhizome, and a sessile leaf about half-way up the flower-stem.

Distribution - Endemic - North Id., Mount Ruapehu and Tararua Range., South, Stewart, Auckland and Campbell Is.

Flowers - November - January
- self pollinated.

Waireia
(from the Maori, the wet peat habitat)

Waireia stenopetala
(the narrow petals)

An endemic, monotypic genus, erroneously included in Lyperanthus and Thelymitra.

Distribution - Endemic - Southern North Id., Stewart, Auckland and Campbell Is.

Flowers - November - March
- self pollinated.