This is one of their favoured habitats, particularly in open areas beneath Manuka and Kanuka.

Here it's fairly easy to find a wide variety of Sun Orchids, various Caladenia, Gnat Orchids, the small forms of Leek Orchid, Onion Orchids, as well as certain species of Greenhood and Spider Orchid.

Good examples of this environment can be found at Albany Scenic Reserve near Auckland, Rainbow Mountain near Rotorua, and the Puffer Track at Kaitoke near Wellington.

Scrubland Orchids Include:

It's possible to see the bush dwelling species in just about all of the natural forest environments, except for the darkest stands, or those with a dense ground covering of fern.

Orchids prefer a reasonable amount of light, therefore the edges of tracks make an ideal location for them.

Most Greenhood species are forest dwellers, along with many of the Spider Orchids, the Epiphytic Orchids, Chiloglottis, some Caladenia, and the Potato Orchids. Adenochilus is confined almost solely to Beech Forest.

For those living in Auckland, the Waitakere Ranges are an excellent place to start looking. Most forest tracks have some species growing beside them.

Forest Orchids Include:

These cooler, higher rainfall forests with a floor covered in mosses are home to species like:

Adenochilus gracilis, Chiloglottis cornuta, Corybas acuminatus, Corybas trilobus agg, Gastrodia cunninghamii, Pterostylis irsoniana, Pterostylis patens, Pterostylis venosa, Pterostylis humilis, Aporostylis bifolia, Prasophyllum colensoi, Townsonia deflexa

This cold wind-blown environment consists of small shrubs, tussock, and stunted Mountain Beech. Nestled in sheltered areas grow the following:

Pterostylis humilis, Aporostylis bifolia, Prasophyllum colensoi, Pterostylis irsoniana, Caladenia lyallii, Caladenia aff lyallii, Waireia stenopetala, Thelymitra cyanea, Thelymitra hatchii, Thelymitra nervosa, Pterostylis tanypoda, Pterostylis tristis, Corybas trilobus agg, Microtis oligantha

Mossy banks with constant dripping water are a favourite home to several species of Spider Orchid. They're a particularly good place to find:

Corybas iridescens, Corybas macranthus, Corybas oblongus, Corybas orbiculatus, Corybas papa, Corybas "Waiouru", Corybas rivularis, Corybas "Whiskers"

Surprisingly, a number of species thrive in this environment, even growing in open water. Wetland orchids include:

Corybas carsei, Cryptostylis subulata, Prasophyllum hectorii, Pterostylis micromega, Pterostylis paludosa, Spiranthes novae zeelandiae, Thelymitra cyanea, and some Corybas species

Fairy Falls Track, Waitakere Range.
Corybas acuminatus, Corybas "Whiskers", Acianthus sinclairii, Earina mucronata.

Destruction Gully, Whatipu, Waitakere Range.
Acianthus sinclairii, Cyrtostylis oblonga, Pterostylis alobula, Pterostylis agathicola, Pterostylis trullifolia, Pterostylis graminea, Corybas oblongus.

Ricker Walk, Waipoua Forest, Northland.
Pterostylis brumalis, Corybas oblongus, Pterostylis agathicola, Cyrtostylis oblonga.

Albany Scenic Reserve, North Shore.
Thelymitra tholiformis, Thelymitra aemula, Thelymitra longifolia, Thelymitra pulchella, Pterostylis graminea, Pterostylis cardiostigma, Genoplesium pumilum, Orthoceras novae zeelandiae, Caladenia chlorostyla.

Rainbow Mountain, Waiotapu, Rotorua.
Calochilus robertsonii, Calochilus paludosus, Thelymitra nervosa, Thelymitra carnea, Thelymitra longifolia, Caladenia alata, Caladenia chlorostyla, Caladenia atradenia, Orthoceras novae zeelandiae, Pterostylis trullifolia.

Kapuni Walk, Dawson falls, Mt Taranaki.
Pterostylis venosa, Adenochilus gracilis, Corybas acuminatus, Chiloglottis cornuta, Aporostylis bifolia, Pterostylis patens, Corybas aff trilobus.

Horopito Area, Mount Ruapehu.
Corybas oblongus, Corybas trilobus agg, Pterostylis patens, Pterostylis aff montana, Adenochilus gracilis, Gastrodia minor, Gastrodia cunninghamii, Caladenia chlorostyla, Caladenia lyallii, Orthoceras novae zeelandiae, Spiranthes novae zeelandiae, Prasophyllum "B", Thelymitra "Whakapapa", Thelymitra formosa, Thelymitra longifolia, Microtis oligantha.

Puffer Track, Kaitoke, Upper Hutt.
Thelymitra pulchella, Thelymitra x dentata, Thelymitra ixioides, Thelymitra nervosa, Orthoceras novae zeelandiae, Corybas oblongus, Pterostylis tasmanica, Cyrtostylis rotundifolia, Prasophyllum colensoi.

Whakapapa, Mount Ruapehu.
Pterostylis humilis, Pterostylis patens, Pterostylis aff montana, Thelymitra cyanea, Prasophyllum colensoi, Thelymitra longifolia, Thelymitra "Whakapapa", Thelymitra formosa, Thelymitra hatchii, Gastrodia cunninghamii, Aporostylis bifolia.

Native Orchid Reserve, Iwitahi, Taupo.

Includes amongst others:   Caladenia species, Caladenia atradenia, Caladenia lyallii, Chiloglottis cornuta, Chiloglottis valida, Chiloglottis trapeziformis, Thelymitra nervosa, Pterostylis patens, Pterostylis foliata, Adenochilus gracilis, Aporostylis bifolia, Gastrodia minor, Gastrodia sesamoides, Gastrodia cunninghamii, Corybas trilobus agg.

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