Greenhood orchids (Pterostylis)

Habitat: Lowland to subalpine, damp scrub and forest. South to Hokitika.

Key features: Upright stance of reddish plant with leaves prominently clasping the stem, labellum poking out from the small aperture between the tepals, heart-shaped stigma. Leaf midrib and ovary ribs generally have an orage hue.

Habitat: Mature lowland to montane moist scrub and open forest.

Key features: Very large flower, short tips to the tepals, rather broad, rounded leaves.

Habitat: Lowland to montane, damp scrub or well lit forest.

Key features: Very large, common, narrow, pointed leaves and long tips to dorsal and lateral sepals.

Habitat: Montane to sub-alpine, open scrub and low forest, often on limestone or marble.

Key features: Large flower, strongly in-curled dorsal sepal, thin crinkly leaves.

Habitat: Lowland to montane open forest and scrub. East Cape to Westland.

Key features: Large flower with recurved dorsal sepal, rearward pointing lateral sepals and red tipped labellum.

Habitat: Forest and scrub in the foothills of east side of Ruahine and Tararua ranges.

Key features: Large, broad flower with shortly pointed, stout tepals, dorsal curled forwards, lateral sepals, pointing straight rearwards and often downwards.

Habitat: High rainfall montane and subalpine scrub and grassland. Central North Island to Westland.

Key features: Alpine habitat, very stout flower, heart-shaped stigma.

Habitat: Montane to alpine mossy forest, scrub and short grassland. Urewera southwards.

Key features: Medium-sized flower above close-spaced broad leaves, stigma oblong, labellum furry, montane to alpine plants.

Habitat: Lowland to montane wetlands, stream edges and bogs. Waikato to Nelson.

Key features: Wetland habitat, large flower with large white areas and long smooth curve of the dorsal sepal.

Habitat: Usually in shaded forest, often under Dicksonia fibrosa, but usually in more open forest and restiad bogs.

Key features: Chatham Islands species, large flowered, labellum broad and twisted at the tip, lateral sepals curled forwards.

Habitat: Heavily shaded forest.

Key features: Medium sized flower, broad arching leaves, lateral sepals flat below and above their junction but with rolled reddish tips.

Habitat: Grass or light scrub, lowland to montane. Throughout South Island.

Key features: Down-turned tip to dorsal sepal, sharply recurved sepals, wide gape and broad leaves.

Habitat: Lowland to subalpine open scrub and forest. East Cape to Westland.

Key features: Flower medium sized, prominently stripey and often highly coloured, labellum protruding with a curled tip ending in a callus.

Habitat: Damp ground in light scrub or forest, often on fertile soils, limestone and volcanic. Central North Island to Nelson and Marlborough.

Key features: Medium sized flower with straight lateral sepals crossing the dorsal sepal.

Habitat: Shaded forest floor, typically in areas of base rich rocks. Waikato to Southland.

Key features: Small flower, lateral sepals hanging below the dorsal sepal.

Habitat: Lowland: common. Found only in kauri forest or remnants. Northland to Bay of Plenty.

Key features: Usually associated with kauri, medium sized nodding flower, upturned dorsal tip.

Habitat: Sphagnum moss, wet open forest areas and scrub. Westland.

Key features: Medium sized, nodding flower, labellum dark green, protruding, with a central dark callus ridge.

Habitat: Lowland to montane peaty wetlands, bog loving. Waikato to Ruahines and upper West Coast of South island..

Key features: Plant of wetlands. Small, pale yellowish plants, stout in leaf and flower, stigma heart-shaped.

Habitat: Lowland to montane, light forest and scrub. Throughout.

Key features: Relatively small flower on a slender stem and long, narrow, shiny dark green leaves.

Habitat: Lowland to montane wetlands, stream edges and bogs. Waikato to Nelson.

Key features: Wetland habitat, large flower with large white areas and long smooth curve of the dorsal sepal.

Habitat: Lowland to montane; grassland, open scrub and forest.

Key features: Flower medium sized, compact, labellum broad dark green to black twisted at the prominently protruding tip

Habitat: Lowland scrub and well lit forest. Northland to Banks Peninsula.

Key features: Presence of rosette and flowering stages, very small flower, lateral sepals incurved at junction to give toothless look.

Habitat: Lowland to montane, light scrub and forest. Northland to Nelson and Marlborough Sounds.

Key features: Presence of rosette and flowering stages, very small flower, lateral sepals rolled outwards at junction to give jug spout look.

Habitat: Lowland poor soils in hard beech, manuka and gorse. Wellington to Nelson, local, rare.

Key features: Small flower and large rounded first year leaves, thickened, jutting junction to sepals, broad petals.

Habitat: In the immediate vicinity of kauri. Northland to Waikato.

Key features: Small flowered, plants with rosette stage, rosettes usually on a distinct stem.

Habitat: Under open scrub and sedges. Northland to Nelson; local, rare.

Key features: Small plant with a distinctive rosette, stubby flower and beady stem.

Habitat: Montane grassland in short turf, often with Hieracium. Nelson southwards.

Key features: Plant with a basal rosette, presence of several small greenish flowers, very stout tepals, labellum callus points forward.

Habitat: Open grassland in short turf, often wetter areas or more shaded slopes, often with Hieracium. Marlborough south to Otago.

Key features: Small plant with a basal rosette, several small, usually brownish, flowers, labellum callus pointed inwards.

Habitat: Winter wet gumland scrub; often with sedges. Northland to Nelson. Local, rare.

Key features: Very distinct with the hairy, pendulous labellum.

Habitat: Lowland; grassland and open scrub, track sides and well lit forest or scrub. Waikato to Otago.

Key features: Basal rosette, long stem and broad curved dorsal sepal with blunt tip.

Habitat: Clay areas beneath light scrub.

Key features: Medium sized flower strongly downturned, broad-leaved rosette of undulating leaves.