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This article was published in Tararua Tramper March 2025
March in the hills with Michele Dickson and Chris Horne
Earina autumnalis
Easter orchid, raupeka
Easter orchid is in the Orchidaceae family, the second-largest family of flowering plants worldwide. There are 107 species of orchids native to Aotearoa New Zealand, all very much smaller than the large showy species of the tropics where most of the 20,000 or so orchid species abound. About a third of the New Zealand species are also native to Australia.
Origin of the botanical name - Earina means vernal – ‘of springtime’, from the Greek word 'earinos'; autumnalis means autumn-flowering from the Latin word 'autumnus' - the season of increase.
Distribution - Raupeka/Easter orchid is native to New Zealand. It occurs on Te Ika a Māui / North Island, Te Waipounamu / South Island, Rakiura / Stewart Island and Rekohu / Chatham Island. Look for it in coastal to montane forests, often in young plant communities. Although classified as an epiphyte/perching plant, it is also common on rocks, cliff faces, banks and even on logs – it is an adaptable species.
Growth habit and reproduction - Raupeka is a 'pendant' orchid – its unbranched, cane-like stems may be short and erect, or up to 1.5 m long and pendulous. The main vein of the dark green, glossy, tapering leaves is deeply inset. The stiff leaves are 4-12 cm long x 5-8 mm wide, leathery, with sheaths at the base and pointed and curving slightly downwards. The fleshy, intertwined rhizome is firmly attached to its substrate, and even when attached to a supporting tree it can spread for several metres along the branch. Orchid flowers have a particular form and arrangement, as described in many texts. Easter orchid flowers mainly in March and April but in some areas from January to June. The flowers are in stiff, upright inflorescences up to 10 cm tall each with up to forty white, yellow-centred flowers about 13 mm in diameter. The strong, sweet scent of the flowers attracts pollinating insects. The plant retains the dead flowers. The fruit appears from April to August. The young capsules are deeply grooved and dark green maturing to a grey colour. Orchid seeds are tiny and dust- like, dispersed by wind.
Uses - We have been unable to find any uses for Easter orchid/raupeka ... except for people enjoying the perfume of the flowers which they can detect when tramping into the wind down-wind from the blooms. The perfume carries a long way in a breeze.
Where to find Easter orchid / raupeka? - Look for it in reserves in the Wellington area, the Tararua, Remutaka and Aorangi ranges, and wherever you tramp in native bush.
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In The Hills 2025-02 < Index chronological > In The Hills 2025-04