Plant
Biennial, forming extensive colonies of small flowers. First year leaves quite round, 10-20mm broad. Second year flowering stems with erect bract-like leaves.
Flowers
Small, 10-15 mm across, Sinus of lateral sepals thickened, protruding like a jug spout. Petals broad, rounded at the tip, the hood of dorsal sepal and petals creating a narrow gap with the sepals can completely obscure the erect, dark brown, straight tipped, obtuse labellum.
Flowering
February - May.
Habitat
Lowland poor soils in hard beech, manuka and gorse. Wellington to Nelson, local, rare.
Conservation
A few sites known around Nelson, Marlborough and Wellington. A new coloniser from Australia where it is rare.
Notes
Very distinctive flower. Unusually small scattered populations.
Key features
Small flower and large rounded first year leaves, thickened, jutting junction to sepals, broad petals.
