Genus of orchids
Corybas , commonly known as helmet orchids , is a
genus of about 120 species of
plants in the orchid
family ,
Orchidaceae . Helmet orchids are small,
perennial ,
deciduous
herbs and are nearly always
terrestrial . They have a single leaf at their base and a single flower on a short stalk, the flower dominated by its large
dorsal
sepal and
labellum . Species of Corybas are found in
Australia ,
New Zealand ,
New Guinea ,
Southeast Asia , the
Himalayas , southern
China , many
Pacific islands and a few
sub-Antarctic islands .
[1]
Description
Orchids in the genus Corybas are perennial, deciduous,
sympodial , usually terrestrial herbs, lacking roots. (A few sometimes grow as
epiphytes on the fibrous bark of tree ferns or on the mossy branches of trees.) They have an underground
tuber which is more or less spherical and fleshy. New tubers form at the end of root-like
stolons . There is a single, heart-shaped, kidney-shaped or almost round leaf, usually at ground level and a short erect stem with a single flower at the top.
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
The flower has a short stalk with a small, leaf-like
bract at its base. The flower is
resupinate , dull-coloured and resembles the
fruiting body of a fungus. The
dorsal
sepal is much larger than the
lateral sepals and
petals and curves forward, often forming a hood over the
column . The lateral sepals and petals are small, linear to almost thread-like. As is usual in orchids, one petal is highly modified as the central labellum and in this genus is often the most obvious part of the flower. The labellum is large, deeply concave or tube-shaped with its base attached to the base of the column and sometimes completely surrounding the column. Sometimes there is a pair of small, ear-like
appendages on either side, near the base. The column is small, enclosed by the base of the labellum and has small wings. In
temperate regions, flowering occurs between autumn and spring and in tropical regions in most months. The fruit that follows flowering is a non-fleshy,
dehiscent
capsule containing up to 500 seeds. As the fruit matures, the flower withers and the flower stem elongates to a length of up to 30 cm (12 in), aiding in seed dispersal.
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
Labelled image (
Corybas pictus )
Taxonomy and naming
Corybas aconitiflorus was first formally described by
Richard Salisbury , allegedly from a colour plate prepared by
Ferdinand Bauer
[2] and thus became the
type species for the genus. The description was published in
The Paradisus Londinensis .
[8]
[9] Salisbury stated that the name of the genus was derived from similarity of the flowers to the covered head of the Greek Κορύβας (
Korybas ), a male dancer, shown in illustrations wearing a crested helmet, who worshipped the goddess
Cybele . Korybas was a priest of Cybele, "whose religious rites were accompanied by frenzied music and dancing".
[11] A 2002 revision of Corybas split it into numerous genera,
[12] but this is not widely accepted.
[13]
[14]
Ecology
Pollination appears to be achieved by small insects, possibly mistaking the unusual flowers for fungi.
[2]
[15] Helmet orchids have not often been studied, partly because of their short-lived, inconspicuous flowers but also because the flowers are difficult to preserve as herbarium specimens. Many form clonal colonies but it is not known whether this is a characteristic of all species.
[3]
Distribution and habitat
Helmet orchids grow in
India ,
South China ,
Taiwan , the
Malay Peninsula ,
Borneo , the
Philippines ,
New Caledonia ,
Vanuatu ,
Ponape ,
Indonesia ,
New Guinea , the
Solomon Islands ,
Australia (including
Macquarie Island ),
New Zealand (including
Chatham ,
Stewart ,
Auckland and
Campbell Islands),
Tahiti ,
Samoa and the
Society Islands . Australian species usually grow in moist, shady places, often with dense moss or on rotting logs, sometimes with orchids from other genera.
Gallery
Species
As of July 2020
[update] , the
World Checklist of Selected Plant Families accepts the following species and natural hybrids:
[16]
Corybas abditus D.L.Jones - swamp helmet orchid, small helmet orchid (W.A.)
Corybas abellianus Dockrill - nodding helmet orchid (Qld.)
Corybas aberrans P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas aconitiflorus Salisb. - cradle orchid, spurred helmet orchid (Qld., N.S.W., Vic., Tas.)
Corybas acuminatus M.A.Clem. & Hatch - dancing spider orchid, helmet flower (N.Z.)
Corybas acutus J.Dransf. & J.B.Comber (
Java )
Corybas aduncus (Schltr.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas albipurpureus P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas amabilis P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas amungwiwensis P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas annamensis Aver. (
Vietnam )
Corybas arachnoideus (Schltr.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas arfakensis (J.J.Sm.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas aristatus (Schltr.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas autumnalis A.P.Br. & D.Edmonds (Southwest Australia)
Corybas bancanus (J.J.Sm.) Schltr. (Sumatra)
Corybas barbarae D.L.Jones - fairy lanterns (Qld., N.S.W.)
Corybas betchei (F.Muell.) Schltr. (
Samoa )
Corybas betsyae P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas boridiensis P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas bryophilus J.J.Sm. (
Borneo )
Corybas calcicola J.Dransf. & G.Sm. (
Malaysia )
Corybas callifer (J.J.Sm.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas calopeplos J.Dransf. & G.Sm. (
Malaysia )
Corybas calophyllus (Schltr.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas carinatus (J.J.Sm.) Schltr. (
Malesia )
Corybas carinulifer (Schltr.) P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas carsei (Cheeseman) Hatch - swamp helmet orchid (N.Z.)
Corybas caudatus Holttum (
Malaysia )
Corybas cerasinus D.L.Jones & B.Gray - red helmet orchid (Qld.)
Corybas cheesemanii (Hook.f. ex Kirk) Kuntze - Cheesemans spider orchid (N.Z.)
Corybas circinatus Tandang & R.A.Bustam.
Corybas comptus J.Dransf. & G.Sm. (
Malaysia )
Corybas confusus Lehnebach - spider orchid (N.Z.)
Corybas crenulatus J.J.Sm. (
Borneo )
Corybas cryptanthus Hatch - hidden spider orchid, icky (N.Z.)
Corybas cyclopensis P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas cymatilis P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas dentatus D.L.Jones - Lofty Ranges helmet orchid (S.A.)
Corybas despectans D.L.Jones & R.C.Nash - tiny helmet orchid, sandhill helmet orchid (S.A., Vic., W.A.)
Corybas diemenicus (Lindl.) Rupp - stately helmet orchid (N.S.W., A.C.T., Vic., Tas.)
Corybas dienemus D.L.Jones - windswept helmet orchid (
Macquarie Island )
Corybas diversifolius S.P.Lyon (
Papua New Guinea )
Corybas dowlingii D.L.Jones - red lanterns (N.S.W.)
Corybas ecarinatus Anker & Seidenf. (
Thailand )
Corybas echinulus E.Faria (
New Caledonia )
Corybas ekuamensis P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas epiphyticus (J.J.Sm.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas erythrocarpus J.J.Sm. (New Guinea)
Corybas expansus D.L.Jones - flared helmet orchid (S.A.)
Corybas fanjingshanensis Y.X.Xiong (
China )
Corybas fenestratus P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas fimbriatus (R.Br.) Rchb.f. - fringed helmet orchid (Qld., N.S.W., Vic., Tas.)
Corybas finisterreanus S.P.Lyon (
P.N.G. )
Corybas fordhamii (Rupp) Rupp - banded helmet orchid (Qld., N.S.W., Vic., S.A., Tas.)
Corybas fornicatus (Blume) Rchb.f. (Western
Malesia to
Bali )
Corybas gastrosiphon (Schltr.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas geminigibbus J.J.Sm. (
Southeast Asia )
Corybas gemmatus P.J.Cribb & B.A.Lewis (
Solomon Islands )
Corybas gibbifer (Schltr.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas globulus (D.L.Jones & L.M.Copel.) J.M.H.Shaw (N.S.W.)
Corybas x halleanus E.Faria (
New Caledonia )
Corybas hatchii Lehnebach
Corybas helensis S.P.Lyon (
Papua New Guinea
Corybas himalaicus (King & Pantl.) Schltr. (east
Himalayas to
Assam )
Corybas hispidus D.L.Jones - bristly helmet orchid (Qld., N.S.W., Vic.)
Corybas holttumii J.Dransf. & G.Sm. (
Malaysia )
Corybas huonensis S.P.Lyon (
P.N.G. )
Corybas hypogaeus (Colenso) Lehnebach
Corybas imperatorius (J.J.Sm.) Schltr. (
Java )
Corybas incurvus D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. - slaty helmet orchid (N.S.W., A.C.T., Vic., S.A., Tas.)
Corybas insulifloris P.Royen (
Flores )
Corybas iridescens Irwin & Molloy - spider orchid, big red (N.Z.)
Corybas karkarensis P.Royen (
Karkar Island )
Corybas karoensis J.B.Comber & J.Dransf. (
Sumatra )
Corybas kinabaluensis Carr (
Sabah )
Corybas klossii (Ridl.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas koresii P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas laceratus L.O.Williams (
Luzon )
Corybas ledermannii (Schltr.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas leucotyle (Schltr.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas limpidus D.L.Jones - crystal helmet orchid (W.A.)
Corybas longipedunculatus P.Royen (
Solomon Islands )
Corybas longipetalus (Ridl.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas longitubus (D.L.Jones & L.M.Copel.) M.A.M.Renner
Corybas macranthus (Hook.f.) Rchb.f. - spider orchid (N.Z.)
Corybas mammillifer P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas mankiensis P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas merrillii (Ames) Ames (
Luzon )
Corybas minimus (R.J.Bates) J.M.H.Shaw (South Australia)
Corybas minutus (Drake) Schltr. (
Society Islands )
Corybas mirabilis (Schltr.) Schltr. (
Solomon Islands to
Vanuatu )
Corybas × miscellus D.L.Jones - hybrid helmet orchid (S.A.)
Corybas moluccanus (Schltr.) Schltr. (
Maluku Islands )
Corybas montanus D.L.Jones - montane helmet orchid (Qld.)
Corybas montis-stellaris P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas muluensis J.Dransf. (
Borneo )
Corybas muscicola (Schltr.) Schltr. (
Sulawesi )
Corybas nanus P.Royen (
Papua New Guinea )
Corybas naviculisepalus P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas neocaledonicus (Schltr.) Schltr. (
Vanuatu and
New Caledonia )
Corybas oblongus (Hook.f.) Rchb.f. - spider orchid (N.Z.)
Corybas obscurus Lehnebach - spider orchid (N.Z.)
Corybas orbiculatus (Colenso) L.B.Moore - spider orchid (N.Z.)
Corybas palearifer (J.J.Sm.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas papa Molloy & Irwin - mudstone spider orchid (N.Z.)
Corybas papillosus (Colenso) Lehnebach (N.Z.)
Corybas pictus (Blume) Rchb.f. (
Malesia )
Corybas pignalii E.Faria (
New Caledonia )
Corybas pilifer J.Dransf. (
Borneo )
Corybas ponapensis (Hosok. & Fukuy.) Hosok. & Fukuy. (
Pohnpei )
Corybas porphyrus P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas praetermissus J.Dransf. & J.B.Comber (
West Java )
Corybas pruinosus (R.Cunn.) Rchb.f. - toothed helmet orchid (N.S.W.)
Corybas puberulus (Schltr.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas puniceus T.P.Lin & W.M.Lin (
Taiwan )
Corybas ramosianus J.Dransf. (
Philippines )
Corybas recurvus D.L.Jones - western helmet orchid (W.A.)
Corybas ridleyanus Schltr. (
Malaysia )
Corybas rivularis (A.Cunn.) Rchb.f. - spider orchid, silverback (N.Z.)
Corybas roseus (Janch.) Janch. ex J.J.Sm. (
West Sumatra )
Corybas rotundifolius (Hook.f.) Rchb.f. - helmet orchid (N.Z.)
Corybas royenii Kores (
Papua New Guinea )
Corybas sagittatus S.P.Lyon
Corybas sanctigeorgianus Lehnebach - St. George's spider orchid (N.Z.)
Corybas saprophyticus (Schltr.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas scutellifer J.B.Comber & J.Dransf. (
North Sumatra )
Corybas selangorensis J.Dransf. & G.Sm. (
Malaysia )
Corybas serpentinus J.Dransf. (
Sabah )
Corybas sexalatus J.J.Sm. (New Guinea)
Corybas simbuensis P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas sinii Tang & F.T.Wang (
Guangxi and
Taiwan )
Corybas smithianus Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas solomonensis P.Royen (
Solomon Islands )
Corybas speculum (Schltr.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas stenotribonos J.B.Comber & J.Dransf. (
North Sumatra )
Corybas striatus (Schltr.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas subalpinus P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas sulcatus (M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones) G.N.Backh. - grooved helmet orchid (
Macquarie Island )
Corybas taiwanensis T.P.Lin & S.Y.Leu (
Taoyuan )
Corybas taliensis Tang & F.T.Wang (
W. Sichuan and
West Yunnan )
Corybas torricellensis (Schltr.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas trilobus (Hook.f.) Rchb.f. – spider orchid (N.Z.)
Corybas umbonatus (Schltr.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas umbrosus J.Dransf. & J.B.Comber (
Java )
Corybas undulatus (R.Cunn.) Rupp - tailed helmet orchid (Qld., N.S.W.)
Corybas unguiculatus (R.Br.) Rchb.f. - small helmet orchid, pelicans (Australia)
Corybas urikensis P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas ventricosus (J.J.Sm.) Schltr. (New Guinea)
Corybas vespertilionis P.Royen (New Guinea)
Corybas villosus J.Dransf. & G.Sm. (
Malaysia )
Corybas vinosus (J.J.Sm.) Schltr. (
West Java )
Corybas viridisepalus S.P.Lyon (
Papua New Guinea )
Corybas vitreus Lehnebach - spider orchid (N.Z.)
Corybas walliae Lehnebach - Zeller's spider orchid (N.Z.)
References
^
a
b
c
"Corybas " ,
World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) ,
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew , retrieved 2016-07-06
^
a
b
c
d Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011), Orchids of South-West Australia. (3rd ed.), Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman, pp. 274–280,
ISBN
9780646562322
^
a
b
c Pridgeon, Alec M.; Cribb, Phillip J.; Chase, Mark W.; Rasmussen, Finn, eds. (2001), Genera Orchidacearum, Volume 2, Orchidoideae (part 1) , Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, pp. 70–74,
ISBN
978-0198507109
^
a
b
"Corybas " .
FloraBase . Western Australian Government
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions .
^
a
b
Jones, D.L. ,
Genus Corybas , Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney: plantnet, retrieved 2016-07-06
^
a
b
Corybas , Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria, retrieved 2020-07-29
^
a
b
Corybas , State Herbarium of South Australia:efloraSA, retrieved 2020-07-29
^
"Corybas " . APNI. Retrieved 4 May 2018 .
^ Salisbury, R.A. & Hooker, W. (1805),
"83 (figure and notes)" , The Paradisus Londonensis : or Coloured Figures of Plants Cultivated in the Vicinity of the Metropolis , vol. 1–2, London: W. Hooker (printer D.N. Shury),
doi :
10.5962/bhl.title.53520 ,
OCLC
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^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956), The Composition of Scientific Words , Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, p. 502
^ Jones, D. L.;
Clements, M. A. (2002). "Nomenclatural Notes Arising from Studies into the Tribe Diurideae". Orchadian . 13 : 443.
^
Hopper, Stephen D. (2009).
"Taxonomic turmoil down-under: recent developments in Australian orchid systematics" . Annals of Botany . 104 (3): 447–455.
doi :
10.1093/aob/mcp090 .
ISSN
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PMC
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PMID
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^
"Genus Corybas " . PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online . Retrieved 2018-02-01 .
^
Lehnebach C.A. , Zeller, A.J., Frericks, J, Ritchie P. (2016) Five new species of Corybas (Diurideae, Orchidaceae) endemic to New Zealand and phylogeny of the Nematoceras clade. Phytotaxa 270: 1–24. DOI:
https://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.270.1.1
^
"Corybas Salisb." ,
World Checklist of Selected Plant Families ,
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew , retrieved 2021-12-08
Media related to
Corybas at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to
Corybas at Wikispecies