Gastrodia cooperae, also known as Cooper's black potato orchid,[2] is a species of plant in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New Zealand.[3] The specific epithet cooperae refers to Dorothy A. Cooper, founder of the New Zealand Native Orchid Group.[4]

Cooper's black potato orchid
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Gastrodieae
Genus: Gastrodia
Species:
G. cooperae
Binomial name
Gastrodia cooperae

Gastrodia cooperae is a parasitic orchid; it produces no chlorophyll.[4]

The plant is listed in New Zealand as 'Threatened - Nationally Critical'. There are only three known sites where it grows, and it is believed that fewer than 250 mature specimens are living today.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Gastrodia cooperae". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. ^ "Critter of The Week". RNZ. 2016-12-09. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  3. ^ Lehnebach, C.A.; Rolfe, J.R.; Gibbins, J.; Ritchie, P. (2016). "Two new species of Gastrodia (Gastrodieae, Orchidaceae) endemic to New Zealand". Phytotaxa. 277 (3): 242–244. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.277.3.2.
  4. ^ a b c "Gastrodia cooperae | New Zealand Plant Conservation Network". www.nzpcn.org.nz. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
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