Corybas aduncus (Schltr.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 19 (1923) 21
Basionym: Corysanthes adunca
Epiphytic, very small, about 2.5-3.5 cm high. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Leaf broadly ovate, shortly acuminate or apiculate, base cordate, clasping the stem, glabrous, 2.5-4 cm long, below the middle 2-3 cm broad. Flower erect, sessile, floral bract lanceolate-subulate, acuminate, overtopping the ovary for almost half its length. Median sepal linear-clawed at the base, suborbicular-spathulate, hooked, narrowly obtuse, outside verruculose, about, 1.7 cm long, lateral sepals lanceolate-subulate, sharply acute, porrect, about, 0.3 cm long, glabrous. Petals very similar to the lateral sepals and equally long, erect. Lip distinctly shorter than the median sepal, above the raised-cucullate base expanded into a suborbicular blade with entire margins, outside verruculose, tubular part in front towards the base inflated-swollen, at the base outside keeled, with deflexed, cylindrical-conical, narrowly obtuse, oblique, very small spurs. Column short, slightly, thickened, glabrous. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, about 0.4 cm long, sessile. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914, as Corysanthes adunca Schltr.).
Colours: Flower whitish. median sepal with rose-red dots, lip outside with short deep carmine-red stripes, inside with red spots.
Habitat: Epiphyte on mossy tree-trunks in lower montane forest. Altitude 1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 178-10M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, needs humus-rich, well-drained soil and a shaded position.