Corybas calophyllus (Schltr.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 19 (1923) 21
Basionym: Corysanthes calophylla
Terrestrial, very small, 3-4 cm high. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Leaf broadly ovate or suborbicular, shortly acuminate, base deeply cordate, glabrous, margin usually minutely, crispate-undulate, 1.8-3 cm long, below the middle 1.5-3 cm broad. Flower subsessile, erect, floral bract lanceolate-subulate, a little longer than the ovary, glabrous. Median sepal above the narrowed base obovate-cucullate, narrowly obtuse, glabrous, about 1.7 cm long. Lateral sepals linear-subulate, sharply acute, glabrous, porrect slightly decurved, 2.5 mm long. Petals very similar to the lateral sepals and equally long, porrect, slightly decurved, glabrous. Lip shorter than the median sepal, above the cucullate base expanded into a suborbicular, dorsally cucullate-incurved, retuse blade with minutely denticulate margins, in the front centre with a deep groove which has a short conical swelling inside, quite glabrous, spurs decurved, conical, subacute, conspicuous, a little longer than the lateral sepals. Column short, somewhat thickened, glabrous. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, about 0.5 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914, as Corysanthes calophylla Schltr.).
Colours: Leaves above deep brown-green with white, yellow, or rose-red veins, below deep purple-violet. Flower dark red, median sepal outside with deeper stripes, lip greenish white with red margins, near the base with dark red veins and with dark red spurs.
Habitat: Terrestrial in humus under shrubs on mountain ridges. Altitude 1300-2680 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May, June, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 178-28M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, keep in light shade.