Corybas smithianus

Corybas smithianus Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 19 (1923) 22 (nom. nov.)

Basionym: Corysanthes triloba

Small. Stem subterraneous muriculate-pubescent. Stem above the ground 2.3 cm long, at the base with a tubular, acuminate, 1 cm long sheath. Leaf sessile, cordate, acuminate, 2.5 cm, including the basal lobes 2.9 cm long, 2.4 cm wide. Inflorescence terminal, 1-flowered, peduncle short, 0.1 cm long. Floral bracts erect, subulate, concave, 1 cm long. Flower erect, rather large, 1.65 cm long. Median sepal incurved, spathulate, obtuse, apiculate, when flattened 1.5 long, 1.1 cm wide, claw strongly concave, when expanded 0.5 cm long and wide, blade strongly semiglobose-concave. Lateral sepals deflexed, subulate, concave, 0.25 cm long. Petals similar to the lateral sepals but larger, deflexed, subulate, concave, 0.5 cm long. Lip funnel-shaped-convolute, strongly curved, clasping the column, 3-lobed, 2-spurred, without callus, when flattened transversely flabellate-oblong, bean-shaped, in total 1.2 cm long, from the base to the apex of the mid-lobe 0.95 cm long, 2 cm wide, spurs parallel, conical, acute, 0.35 cm long, lateral lobes largely hidden under the median sepal, obliquely oblong-ovate, somewhat falcate, rounded, with curved veins, front margin in the middle crenulate-erose, 0.7 cm wide, mid-lobe short, strongly convex-reflexed except the apex, erose, apiculate, membranous, when expanded indistinctly bilobed, 0.15 cm long 0.4 cm wide. Column erect, 0.24 cm long, at the base with a large truncate callus. Anther large, erect, apex bilobed. Stigma prominent, almost stalked, cup-shaped, with the margins almost forming two lids. Ovary erect, 6-grooved, 0.4 cm long. (After Smith, 1911, as Corysanthes triloba J.J.Sm.)

Colours: Leaves dark green with red veins. Flower red.

Habitat: Terrestrial. Altitude 1000 m.

Flowering time in the wild: Not known

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 178-117M.JPG

Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.

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