About Corybas cheesemanii (Hook.f. ex Kirk) Kuntze
Corybas cheesemanii (Hook.f. ex Kirk) Kuntze, commonly called Cheesemans spider orchid, is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb. It produces a single leaf that is typically heart-shaped to almost round, 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long, though it sometimes only appears as a small green scale. The upper surface of the leaf is green, and its lower surface is silvery green. The plant usually bears only one single flower, which ranges in color from dark pink to greyish white with purple specks, or may be entirely white. The flower reaches a height of 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in). The largest structure of the flower is the dorsal sepal, which is hood-shaped and completely covers the rest of the flower. The lateral sepals are very small, and the petals are usually not visible. The labellum is cream-colored or white, and is tube-shaped near its base, with a narrow spur pointing downwards on either side at the base. Flowering takes place from May to September. After flowering, a fruiting capsule develops, up to 20 mm (0.8 in) long, carried on an elongated stem that can grow up to 220 mm (9 in) tall. This orchid grows in deep shade, often buried in deep rotting leaf litter in tall scrub or forest. It is found on the North, South, Three Kings and Chatham Islands.
