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Gastrodia cunninghamii
Also called Black Orchid
Gastrodia cunninghamii, or black orchid, black potato orchid, or perei in Māori, is a species of parasitic orchid, endemic to New Zealand. It grows in the North Island, south of the Waikato, and in the South Island, Stewart Island, and the Chathams. It is not threatened, and is widespread in forested areas.
Gastrodia cunninghamii is a parasitic orchid, which does not photosynthesise, and has no leaves. It is dependent upon a symbiotic relationship with a fungus, Armillaria novae-zelandiae for nutrients, which in turn takes nutrients from host trees. It is often found near Nothofagus trees.
Gastrodia africana · Gastrodia agnicellus · Gastrodia amamiana · Cooper's black potato orchid · Dense potato orchid · Tall Gastrodia · Brindabella potato orchid · Gastrodia gunatillekeorum · Gastrodia javanica · Gastrodia kuroshimensis · Western Potato Orchid · Gastrodia molloyi
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Gastrodia cunninghamii by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
