Corybas callifer (J.J.Sm.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 19 (1923) 21 ('calliferus')
Basionym: Corysanthes callifera
Small. Tuber subglobose, 0.3 cm diameter. Subterraneous stem long pilose, 0.8-3 cm long, stoloniferous, hairs 0.4 cm long. Stem above the ground 1.1 cm long, one-leaved, at the base with a long subulate-acuminate, 0.5 cm long sheath clasping the stem. Leaf horizontal, sessile, cordate, 1 cm long, including the basal lobes 1.1 cm long, 0.95 cm wide, apex very sharply acuminate, basal sinus very broad, lobes rounded, undulate, midrib keeled below. Inflorescence 1-flowered; bracts dilated at the base, subulate, concave; 0.5 cm long. Flower medium-sized, 1 cm wide, 1.15 cm long. Median sepal erect, strongly incurved, long spathulate, concave, 1.8 cm long, with 7 dorsally keeled nerves, claw towards the apex somewhat dilated, blade suborbicular, obtusely apiculate, slightly crenulate, 0.65 cm long, 0.73 cm wide. Lateral sepals between the spurs porrect, small, subulate, dilated at the base, 0.23 cm long. Petals divergent, small, subulate, dilated towards the base, 0.3 cm long. Lip large, erect, tubular-clawed, convolute, at the base with two divergent, thick conical, 0.1 cm long spurs, blade broadly subreniform, broadly covered by the rounded posterior lobes, strongly incurved, almost helmet-shaped, apex recurved, very broadly rounded, margin especially towards the apex long fimbriate, in the middle with a large, semiglobose callus 0.2 cm diameter, when flattened 1.55 cm wide. Column recurved, at the base with a transverse callus adnate to the lip, 0.17 cm long. Anther rather large. Pollinia oblong. Rostellum porrect, transversely ovate, rounded. Stigma almost cup-shaped, quadrangular, prominent. Ovary recurved, 6-grooved, 0.28 cm long. (After Smith, 1909, as Corysanthes callifera J.J.Sm.)
Colours: Leaf with white veins. Median sepal white, lip blackish purple with white callus.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lowland forest. Altitude 0 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 178-25M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm growing terrestrial, keep in shade.