Gastrodia cooperae

Gastrodia cooperae, also known as Cooper's black potato orchid,^[2] is a species of plant in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New Zealand.^[3] The specific epithet cooperae refers to Dorothy A. Cooper, founder of the New Zealand Native Orchid Group.^[4]

Cooper's black potato orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Tribe:	Gastrodieae
Genus:	Gastrodia
Species:	G. cooperae
Binomial name
Gastrodia cooperae Lehnebach & J.R.Rolfe[1]

Gastrodia cooperae is a parasitic orchid; it produces no chlorophyll.^[4]

The plant is listed in New Zealand as 'Threatened - Nationally Critical'. There are only three known sites where it grows, and it is believed that fewer than 250 mature specimens are living today.^[4]