South Island: In various localities from Nelson to the south of Otago, but not common. Stewart Island, Chatham Islands: Abundant, Lyall, Kirk! H. H. Travers, F. A. D. Cox! &c. November–January.
No doubt very closely allied to P. Banksii, and to some extent connected with it by intermediate forms. But if it be merged with that species, then for the sake of consistency P. graminea should also be included, for it occupies just the same position on one side of P. Banksii that P. australis does on the other. It seems preferable to treat both as distinct though closely related species.
3. P. graminea, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 248.—Habit of P. Banksii, but smaller and much more slender, 4–10 in. high. Leaves overtopping the flower or shorter than it, 1–5 in. long,
⅛–¼ in. broad, narrow-linear or narrow linear-lanceolate, acute or acuminate. Flower small, ½–¾ in. long, including the points of the sepals. Galea as in P. Banksii, but the upper sepal and petals, although acuminate, are not produced into filiform points or into very short ones. Lower lip with the free lobes narrowed into subulate or shortly filiform erect points almost equalling the galea. Lip and column as in P. Banksii.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 268.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Not uncommon in shaded places in lowland districts from the North Cape southwards. September–November.
Differs from P. Banksii in the smaller size, narrower leaves, and smaller flower with very short tails to the sepals.
4. P. micromega, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 248.—Slender, glabrous, 4–12 in. high. Lower leaves ½–1½ in. long, ¼–½ in. broad, ovate-oblong to linear-oblong or lanceolate, obtuse or acute, sessile or petiolate; cauline 2–5, smaller and narrower, sessile, flat, sheathing at the base, acute or acuminate. Flower large, solitary, erect, ¾–1½ in. long. Galea erect at the base, then incurved, tip horizontal or nearly so; upper sepal narrow, acuminate; petals slightly shorter, broad, falcate, acuminate. Lower lip with the entire part cuneate, the free lobes very gradually narrowed into long filiform points embracing the galea, often quite 1 in. long. Lip narrow-linear, its tip exserted; basal appendage curved, penicillate. Column about half as long asthe galea, upper lobe of wing with an erect subulate tooth, lower lobe oblong, obtuse.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 268. P. polyphylla, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxii. (1890) 489.
North Island: Auckland—Swamps near Lake Taupo, Tryon! near Tongariro, H. Hill! Wellington—Murimotu, Petrie! Karioi, A. Hamilton! swamps in the Wairarapa district, Colenso! Taranaki—Ngaire Swamp, T.F.C. December–January.
Best known by the slender habit, usually few radical leaves, numerous rather small flat cauline leaves, and large flower not decurved at the tip.
5. P. Oliveri, Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvi. (1894) 270.—Stout or slender, leafy, glabrous, 6–12 in. high. Lower leaves
