This species was first described by Cajetan von Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer in 1875 using a specimen collected in Nelson by T. R. Oxley and named Tortrix taipana.

[2] Dugdale examined the male genitalia of the type specimen of C. enoplana and based on this stated it was a synonym of Planotortrix taipana.

[3] Dugdale stated that further work was needed on this species as in his view it was possible that A. spatiosa and A. conditana were synonymous with A.

[8] When it is ready to pupate the larva joins leaves of its host plant together and then forms its pupa inside.

Head, antennae, thorax, abdomen, and legs whitish-brown; (palpi broken); anterior and middle tibiae and tarsi suffused with dark fuscous except at apex of joints.

Forewings moderate, posteriorly dilated, costa moderately arched, hindmargin sinuate, hardly oblique; light dull brown; costal edge and fold dark fuscous; outer edge of basal patch indicated by an irregular dark fuscous line from 1⁄4 of costa to 1⁄3 of inner margin; central fascia dark fuscous towards costa, towards inner margin hardly darker than ground-colour, but margined by dark fuscous lines, running from before middle of costa to before anal angle, very narrow on costa, gradually dilating to middle, very broad on lower half, margins rather irregular; a fiattened-triangular dark fuscous spot on costa about 3⁄4 : cilia light brown, with a darker basal line.

[10] Other than in the type locality of Nelson, species has been observed in Banks Peninsula, Otago and Invercargill.