Five new species of Corybas (Diurideae, Orchidaceae) endemic to New Zealand and phylogeny of the Nematoceras clade

Researchers have identified five new species of Corybas orchids endemic to New Zealand, distinguished from the Corybas trilobus aggregate through morphometric and DNA fingerprinting (AFLP) analyses. These species—C. confusus, C. obscurus, C. sanctigeorgianus, C. vitreus, and C. wallii—exhibit low genetic divergence, suggesting recent diversification despite their morphological and ecological diversity. The study also reveals multiple dispersal events from New Zealand to offshore and sub-Antarctic islands, contributing new insights into the phylogeny of the Nematoceras clade.

LEHNEBACH, C. A., ZELLER, A. J., FRERICKS, J., & RITCHIE, P. (2016). Five new species of Corybas (Diurideae, Orchidaceae) endemic to New Zealand and phylogeny of the Nematoceras clade. Phytotaxa, 270(1). https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.270.1.1