Māori Plant Use Database Plant Use Details of Thelymitra longifolia

Māori Plant Use

Plant Use Details

Thelymitra longifolia. Maikaika.

FAMILY: Orchidaceae Orchid family

BOTANICAL NAME: Thelymitra longifolia

PREVIOUS NAMES: Thelymitra forsteri (Taylor 1855)

MĀORI NAME: māikaika Kirk; māikaika Taylor 1855 says that māikaika is a common name for terrestrial orchids including this one.; māikuku Beever 1991

COMMON NAME: thelymitra; white sun orchid

FOOD: 'Small orchidaceous plant(s) found amongst fern and low tea tree. The tubers contain salep, and are eaten by the natives' (Kirk, in Taylor 1870). Use as food also recorded in Colenso 1869a. ('Salep' is the name for the ground-up tubers of orchids). The oval and rounded tubers can be eaten cooked or raw. The tubers are found in winter. Crowe (1990) describes the flavour as crisp and slightly bitter when raw, and like an insipid potato when boiled.

RECORD NUMBER: 1235