Gahnia setifolia < Species index > Gaultheria antipoda
Hūperei, Perei, Maukuuku, Uhi, Perei,
Black orchid, Potato orchid
Photo: Jeremy Rolfe
This article was published in the Tararua Tramper February 2026
February In the hills with Michele Dickson and Chris Horne
Gastrodia cunninghamii, Hūperei, Perei, Maukuuku, Uhi, Perei, Black orchid, Potato orchid
Gastrodia comes from the Greek words for 'belly' and for 'tooth'. This may refer to the pot-bellied shape of the flowers; cunninghamii refers to the English botanist, Allan Cunningham (1791-1839), who was stationed in Australia and who visited and collected plants in New Zealand.
Distribution and habitat
Black orchid is endemic to Aotearoa. It grows on the North Island / Te Ika a Māui, South Island / Te Waipounamu, Stewart Island / Rakiura and on Chatham Islands / Rekohu.
Look for it in montane areas, particularly in beech forest and in pine forest plantations. Also look for it in lower altitudes in dark hollows within forest, especially in naturally cold sites. It is uncommon north of Waikato.
Growth habit
Hūperei grows up to 1.0 – 1.4 m tall when flowering. It is brown to brown-black. It is saprophytic which means that it lacks chlorophyll and lives on dead organic matter. The stem is 4 – 10 mm in diameter. The pale brown to brownish-black swollen underground rhizome has many branches.
Reproduction
Black orchid flowers from October to March. It fruits from December to May. The plant may have up to 100 flowers. These have white petal-like parts at the end of a much longer, swollen, dark brown or greenish, curved, knobbly tube. The labellum has a black tip just visible at the mouth. The flowers are mostly unscented although some people detect an aroma like that of stewed apricots.
Uses
We do not know of any uses made of black orchid ... except by photographers … it is a spectacular plant because it is black.
Where can you find Hūperei, Perei, Maukuuku, Uhi, Perei?
In the southern North Island you may find in the Tararua, Remutaka and Aorangi ranges.