Plant: 3-20mm all. Stems cryptic, like a rusty nail, leafless, bracts and buds mushroom mottled brown.

Flowers: white tipped, mushroom coloured, never opening widely.

Flowering: December to February.

Habitat: fertile stream terraces and similar places, nearly always found under taraire or nikau. South to Nelson.

Conservation: local but often locally abundant; quite cryptic, not threatened.

Notes: tubers may persist for years underground, the above ground parts not emerging until conditions are suitable.

Key features: tiny size, cryptic colouring and association with nikau and tariare.