Page:Manual of the New Zealand Flora.djvu/734

694 hood-shaped, arched over the lip. Lateral sepals and petals small, linear-subulate, seldom more than ½ as long as the lip. Lip large, involute, the margins meeting behind the column and enclosing it, orbicular-cordate when spread out; base with a rounded auricle on each side; apex truncate, entire or very slightly denticulate; disc with a thickened patch covered with deflexed hairs. Column short, stout, curved, swollen in front at the base.

3. C. oblonga, ''Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl.'' 266.—Variable in size, ½–2 in. high. Leaf sessile, ¾–1½ in. long, ovate-oblong, apiculate, rounded or cordate at the base, thin and membranous, conspicuously veined when dry. Flowers small, shortly peduncled, solitary or very rarely two together, about ¼ in. long, reddish-purple; bract rather large, sometimes foliaceous, erect. Upper sepal narrow, concave, oblong when spread out, obtuse or apiculate, arched over the lip. Lateral sepals and petals filiform, ¼–¾ in. long. Lip involute, the margins meeting behind the column and enclosing it, broadly semicordate when spread out; base with a rounded auricle or orifice on each side; apex truncate, coarsely toothed or fimbriate, centre of disc with minute dentiform papillæ. Column short, stout, curved to the front, with a swelling at the base.—Nematoceras oblonga, ''Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel.'' i. 250, t. 57.

4. C. rivularis, ''Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl.'' 266.—Very delicate and membranous, 1–2½ in. high. Leaf sessile, ½–2 in. long, ovate or oblong-ovate, acuminate, deeply cordate or almost 2-lobed at the base, very thin and membranous, veins conspicuous, reticulated. Flower shortly pedunculate or sessile between the lobes of the leaf, ⅓–½ in. long; bract narrow, acuminate. Upper sepal narrow, concave, arched over the lip, gradually tapering into a long filiform point. Lateral sepals and petals filiform, 1–2 in. long, the petals usually exceeding the sepals. Lip involute, the margins meeting behind the column and enclosing it, broadly ovate-cordate when spread out; base with a rounded auricle or orifice on each side; upper portion curved forwards and downwards, acuminate or apiculate, margins undulate, entire. Column very short, stout, erect.—Nematoceras rivularis, ''Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel.'' i. 251.

In damp wooded ravines from the North Cape southwards, but often local. Sea-level to 2000 ft. September–November.