Corybas papa

Detailed description

Terrestrial, tuberous, glabrous,summer-green herb forming extensive colonies. Tuberoids globose to ellipsoid on extended roots. Leaf solitary, firm and fleshy, sessile; usually spreading and held flat to the ground surface; lamina 18–40 × 15–35 mm, blunt wedge-shaped to ovate-oblong, sometimes pandurate, apiculate at apex, with apiculus decurved, rounded and cordate at base; midrib slightly grooved above, flat beneath; leaf colour dull green above with purple flecks on margins, on midrib, or overall, silvery beneath. Flowers 1–(2), 10–15 mm long, generally green throughout except for labellum tube, dominated by the labellum, filiform petals and lateral sepals, on a usually purple streaked peduncle 3.0–5.0 × 1.5–2.0 mm. Ovary 5–8 × 2–4 mm, green, sometimes streaked with purple, curved, subtended by two unequal floral bracts, the smaller vestigial to 3 mm long, subulate, the larger 6–10 × 3–5 mm, narrowly ovate-lanceolate, green, equaling the ovary. Dorsal sepal 15–20 × 5–8 mm, exceeding the labellum, lanceolate in outline when flattened, concave, cucullate and arching over the labellum tube, with apex upturned; green, slightly diffused with purple on the veins. Lateral sepals 50–70 × 0.5–1.0 mm at widest point; filiform, greatly exceeding labellum; green, sometimes flecked with purple; suberect to erect and spreading; channelled, and twisted. Petals 40–60 × 0.5–1.0 mm at widest point, usually shorter than lateral sepals, filiform, greatly exceeding labellum, projecting forwards and outwards; channelled, auriculate at base of the column. Auricles short, projecting downwards and forwards, with apertures 1.0–1.5 mm across. Labellum usually green except for labellum tube and upper margins of lamina which are often purple-flushed or streaked; labellum tube 8–10 mm long, erect at first then doubly deflexed through 90°–180°, expanding into the lamina; lamina 6–8 × 8–10 mm, broadly ovate; upper margins folded inwards and overlapping; lower surface spreading, deflexed against ovary; rounded or obtuse with slightly erose margins and a median apiculus; inner surface with scattered minute papillae, veins ridged; throat of labellum tube notched, barely over half-way on lamina. Column 2.5–3.0 mm long, broadest and ridged at base, inclined backwards, minutely winged. Stigma scutiform, 0.7 mm diameter, concave. Anther 1 mm, obtuse. Pollinia 4, united in pairs, 0.6 × 0.4 mm, oblong, mealy, yellow. Capsule 10–16 × 4–6 mm, elliptic, initially green later brown, on greatly elongated peduncle.