If you enjoy orchid-hunting then pencil in a trip for November next year. Hugh Wilson, in his
'Field Guide to Stewart Island Plants' identifies 30 species of native orchids found here and whilst I'm getting better at identifying the genus categories (eg Corybas), narrowing it down to the species (eg rivularis) is a lot trickier.
The flowers of our native orchids aren't as showy as their tropical cousins but close-up photos reveal the same intricate structure that is designed for insect pollination. This blog will cover tutukiwi or greenhood orchid,
Pterostylis, that has a labellum (tongue) that propels an insect inside the flower when landed on; to get out the insect has to squeeze past the stigma, leaving behind any pollen it brought in and picking up another load to take to the next flower. I pass hundreds of these orchids as I walk home - here's a selection of pics...
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| Close-up of Pterostylis flower |
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| A group of tutukiwi growing on the bank |
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| Greenhood orchid flower shrivels as ovary capsule swells |
