Thelymitra longifolia

J. R. Forst. & G. Forst.

Maori potato, Maikuku

Orchidaceae Edible: Root 2,279 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by

Summary

Thelymitra longifolia, commonly called white sun orchid, common sun orchid or maikuku, is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae that is endemic to New Zealand. It was the first of a large number of similar species to be described and is therefore the type species. It has a single grass-like leaf and up to five white flowers

Description

An orchid. It can be 6-40 cm high. The leaves are narrow and grass like. The flowers can vary in colour from green, white, pink or mauve-blue. The tubers are white and shiny. They are 25 mm long. They are edible.

Edible Uses

The root can be eaten raw or cooked.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows throughout New Zealand. It occurs from sea level to fairly high altitudes. It grows in moist climates.

Where It Grows

New Zealand*,

Cultivation

This species is not very hardy outdoors in Britain and generally requires greenhouse protection. Orchids are, in general, shallow-rooting plants of well-drained low-fertility soils. Their symbiotic relationship with a fungus in the soil allows them to obtain sufficient nutrients and be able to compete successfully with other plants. They are very sensitive to the addition of fertilizers or fungicides since these can harm the symbiotic fungus and thus kill the orchid. A very ornamental plant.

Propagation

Surface sow seed in a greenhouse, preferably as soon as it is ripe, and never let the compost dry out. The seed is extremely simple — a minute embryo enclosed in a single layer of protective cells with very little food reserve. It depends on a symbiotic relationship with a soil-dwelling fungus, whose hyphae invade the seed and enter the embryo cells. The orchid then digests the fungal tissue, which supplies nutrition until the plant can draw nutrients from decaying soil matter. To establish this relationship, incorporate soil from around an existing plant of the same species, or sow near one and allow seedlings to develop until large enough to move.

Other Uses

None known.

Notes

There are about 70 Thelymitra species mostly in Australia and the Pacific.

References (3)

Crowe, A., 1997, A Field Guide to the Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Penguin. p 105
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Skinner, G. & Brown, 1981, C., Simply Living. A gatherer's guide to New Zealand's fields, forests and shores. Reed. p 15