Three New Species of Thelymitra (Diurideae, Orchidaceae) Endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract Three new species of sun orchid ( Thelymitra ) endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand are here described: T. palustris , T. scabrifolia and T. semaphora . The morphological distinctiveness of these three species has been acknowledged for decades; however, their taxonomic status has remained unresolved. Evidence from existing karyological data, recently generated DNA sequence data ( LFY and ycf 1) and morphological studies from historical and fresh collections are used here to support their formal description. Both T. palustris and T. semaphora are restricted to wet habitats north of Auckland (North Island). Thelymitra scabrifolia inhabits mostly scrub, with a similar northern North Island distribution, but it has been found also in Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands and historically in Otago (South Island). All three species are polyploids and are of conservation concern.