Corybas gastrosiphon (Schltr.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 19 (1923) 21
Basionym: Corysanthes gastrosiphon
Epiphytic, very small, 2-5 cm high. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Leaves ovate to ovate-elliptic, shortly acuminate or acute, at the base cordate, clasping the stem, 2.2-5.5 cm long, 1-3.6 cm broad. Flower sessile, erect, medium-sized, glabrous. Floral bract lanceolate, acuminate, about twice as long as the ovary. Median sepal at the base linear, obovate-spathulate, broadly obtuse, concave, about 1.5 cm long, lateral sepals ascending, linear- subulate, acute, about 0.8 cm long, at the very base connate. Petals very similar to the lateral sepals and equally long. Lip cucullate, distinctly shorter than the median sepal, in front expanded into a suborbicular blade, apex slightly emarginate, margins minutely denticulate, on the inside glabrous, the tubular part in front especially towards the base inflated-swollen, keeled outside at the base, with very small, oblique, conical spurs. Column very small. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, about 0.5 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914, as Corysanthes gastrosiphon Schltr.).
Colours: Flower outside whitish, median sepal inside rose-red, lip inside with carmine-red veins.
Habitat: Epiphyte on mossy tree-trunks in lower montane forest. Altitude 1000-1100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 178-49M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, needs humus-rich, well-drained soil and a shaded position.