Corybas simbuensis P.Royen, Phanerog. Monogr. 16 (1983) 42, fig. 7
Type: NGF (Millar) 23170 (holo LAE; iso BISH, L)
Small, 8 cm tall terrestrial. Tuber ovoid, 0.2-0.3 by 0.15-0.25 cm. Stem 5 cm long, 2-winged, glabrous. Cataphyll cylindrical-funnel-shaped, 0.8 cm long, subcaudate, 3-nerved. Leaves ovate to suborbicular, 1.5-2.4 by 1.3-3 cm, acuminate, at the base cordate but cuneate at very base, mid-rib slightly grooved above, crested below, basal nerves 2 on either side of mid-rib, connate to inner basal nerve, venation widely reticulate, margin wavy-crenulate; scattered pellucid lenticelled. Pedicel 0.25-0.3 cm long, glabrous. Floral bract linear, ovate in basal part, boat-shaped, 0.9 by 0.2 cm, caudate. Ovary ellipsoid or cylindrical, 0.5 by 0.2 cm, broadly 3-ribbed with 3 narrower ribs in between, glabrous. Median sepal strongly hooded, curving and enveloping the lip, 1.5-1.7 by 0.8 cm, at the apex with an oblong-rhombic, 0.3 by 0.3 cm large, obtuse, appendage curving over the opening of the lip, margin irregularly wavy, basal part narrow, apical part obovate-cucullate and 2-lobed, lobes slightly irregularly crenulate along margin, claw 3-nerved, hood 8-nerved, finely papillate on outside of hooded part only. Lateral sepals ovate-elliptic, 0.2 by 0.05 cm, subacute. Lateral petals linear, ovate at the base, 0.25 by 0.05 cm, subacute. Lip tubular in basal part, abruptly curved and widened into a 2-lobed suborbicular, 1 by 0.6 cm large blade, acute, lobes forming a narrow channel in the throat with a boss in the centre of the groove, 5-nerved in basal part, 15-nerved near margin, boss conoid, 0.1 by 0.1 cm, lip scattered warty on inside near tip only; spurs conoid, 0.3 by 0.25 cm, mammillate at tip. Capsule not seen. (After Van Royen, 1983).
Colours: Leaves green, mottled red. Flower colour not recorded.
Habitat: Terrestrial in upper montane forest. Altitude 2710-2987 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 178-115M.JPG
Cultivation: Cool growing terrestrial.