Corybas recurvus

Western helmet orchid
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Corybas
Species:
C. recurvus
Binomial name
Corybas recurvus
Synonyms[1]

Corybas recurvus, commonly known as the western helmet orchid[2] or common helmet[3] is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to Western Australia. It has round or heart-shaped leaf and a dark reddish purple or purplish black flower. It is widespread and common between Bunbury and Albany.

Description

Corybas recurvus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with a single thin, round or broad heart-shaped leaf 15–40 mm (0.6–2 in) long and 15–45 mm (0.6–2 in) wide. The leaf is green on the upper surface and silvery green on the lower side. There is a single dark reddish purple or purplish black flower 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long and 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide which leans backwards. The dorsal sepal is 23–34 mm (0.9–1 in) long, 12–20 mm (0.5–0.8 in) wide and curves forward over the labellum. The lateral sepals are whitish, about 5 mm (0.2 in) long, 0.5 mm (0.02 in) wide, joined at their bases and projected forwards. The petals also whitish, about 3 mm (0.1 in) long, 0.5 mm (0.02 in) wide and taper to a thread-like tip. The labellum is tube-shaped at the base, the tube 6–7.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, before opening to a dish-shape 14–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long, 9–11 mm (0.35–0.43 in) wide, dark reddish purple or purplish black with many broad, blunt teeth around the edge. Flowering occurs from July to September.[2][3][4][5]

Taxonomy

Corybas recurvus was first formally described in 1991 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Toolbrunup and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[6] The specific epithet (recurvus) is a Latin word meaning "recurved" or "curved backwards ", referring to the flower of this orchid.[4]

In 2002, David Jones and Mark Clements proposed splitting Corybas into smaller genera and placing this species into Corysanthes but the change has not been widely accepted.[7]

Distribution and habitat

The western helmet orchid is widespread and common between Bunbury and Albany, growing in moist forests. It sometimes grows in large colonies in dense coastal scrub and in plantations of introduced pine.[2][3][5][8]

Conservation

Corybas recurvus is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b "Corybas recurvus". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. ^ a b c Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 172. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. ^ a b c Brown, Andrew; Dixon, Kingsley; French, Christopher; Brockman, Garry (2013). Field guide to the orchids of Western Australia : the definitive guide to the native orchids of Western Australia. Simon Nevill Publications. p. 173. ISBN 9780980348149.
  4. ^ a b Jones, David L. (1991). "New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 2: 47–48.
  5. ^ a b Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 280. ISBN 9780646562322.
  6. ^ "Corybas recurvus". APNI. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  7. ^ Jones, D.L. (2002), "Nomenclatural notes arising from studies into the tribe Diurideae (Orchidaceae)", Orchadian, 13: 436–468
  8. ^ a b "Corybas recurvus". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.