Myrmechila formicifera
Syn: Chiloglottis formicifera
Ant Orchid

PLANT: Terrestrial tuberous herb.
Up to 12cm high. Flower stem with brown or purple markings.

LEAVES: Two sessile, broadly ovate to oblong leaves, 3-5cm long.

FLOWER: Solitary. 12–16 mm long. Greenish brown with a black labellum callus. Dorsal sepal spathulate. Lateral sepals recurved. Petals reflexed. Labellum diamond-shaped, with a narrow, shiny, black, ant-like callus extending from the base to the apex. Column narrowly winged.

FLOWERING TIME: August - September.

HABITAT: Gumland scrub in the Far North.

CONSERVATION STATUS: Non-Resident Native - Vagrant.

NOTES: Presumed extinct. The only NZ specimens were collected between 1900 to 1903 from Lake Tongonge near Kaitaia.