Corybas
Deciduous, mostly colony-forming, terrestrial herbs arising from small round tubers. Leaf solitary, more or less cordate, kidney-shaped or circular, usually prostrate. Flower solitary on short pedicel which elongates at fruiting stage, subtended by small bract; dorsal sepal large, hood-shaped; lateral sepals very small or rudimentary (in Australian species). Labellum quite large, deeply concave or tubular at base, completely enveloping column and usually dilated on either side at base forming a pair of small auricles, expanded beyond tubular part, sometimes with conspicuous swollen boss. Column small, erect, with small apical wings, often with staminode in front at base.
About 50 species in the west Pacific region; 24 occurring in Australia, 11 in Victoria.
These tiny orchids are often hidden under dense undergrowth and flower primarily in winter.
Some authorities recognise the segregate genera Anzybas, Corysanthes and Nematoceras in Australia
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
