Nematoceras "round leaf"
Spider Orchid

PLANT: Terrestrial tuberous herb.
To 3cm in height.

LEAVES: Leaf reniform, green with maroon glands inset irregularly around the margin; broad oval, c.25mm long on flowered plants, orbicular, up to 40mm on sterile plants.

FLOWER: Solitary. Resembles the flower of the N trilobum aggregate. Lateral sepals to 40mm long, twisted into filiform, claret-striped threads standing almost erect but curling forwards. Petals to 14mm, filiform standing out horizontally but curling back, forth or upwards. Labellum parallel to flared wings at the opening, mostly maroon with translucent pale stripes all around the inner sanctum leading to a dark maroon surround of the column.

FLOWERING TIME: October - December.

HABITAT: Shady sites beside streams.
Usually sub-alpine, but also recorded from a lowland area near Kawhia.

NOTES: Flowers can vary between colonies.