Corybas diemenicus
(Lindl.) Rchb.f. Veined Helmet-orchidLeaf circular to cordate, sometimes 3-lobed, green above, frosty underneath, 15–27 mm long, 13–31 mm wide. Flower reddish-purple with white central patch, pedicel (excluding ovary) c. 2 mm long; dorsal sepal dark reddish, broadly oblong-obovate, narrowly contracted at base, hooded, covering labellum and extending beyond it, c. 2 cm long when flattened out; lateral sepals linear, tapered, fused at expanded base, directed more or less horizontally forward, c. 4 mm long; petals narrowly falcate, wider and shorter than lateral sepals and attached to them at the base, usually directed forwards, c. 2–3 mm long, tips sometimes forked. Labellum 15–20 mm long when flattened out, tube erect, longer than lamina, auricles wide and opening downwards; lamina acutely recurved, expanded into trumpet-shaped orifice, crimson-streaked along veins with reddish hairs in front of boss, margins coarsely toothed and directed forwards; central boss white, conspicuous, convex (not channelled); callus entire. Column not winged. Flowers Jul.–Sep.
Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, HFE, VAlp. Also SA, NSW, Tas. Widespread in cool, shaded habitats and often forming extensive colonies under coastal scrubs and woodlands or in moist rocky areas, often on sandy soils.
A late-flowering variant from southern Victoria west from Wilsons Promontory, growing under Leptospermum lanigerum, has the labellum auricles covered by the labellum and may be a distinct species (see C. sp. aff. diemenicus (Coastal)).
Entwisle, T.J. (1994). Orchidaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 740–901. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
