About Erythrorchis cassythoides (A.Cunn. ex Lindl.) Garay
Erythrorchis cassythoides is a leafless, climbing, myco-heterotrophic herb. It produces thin, wiry, dark brown to blackish stems that can reach up to 5 metres (20 feet) in length. Its flowers are arranged in branched clusters, holding between 10 and 30 resupinate flowers each. The flower clusters measure 80–150 mm (3–6 inches) long. Each individual flower is yellow to greenish, and 20–25 mm (0.8–1 inch) wide. The sepals and petals are 11–18 mm (0.4–0.7 inches) long and 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 inches) wide; the lateral sepals and petals are curved and spread apart from one another. The labellum is white, measuring 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 inches) long and 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 inches) wide, with wavy or crinkled edges. As the labellum ages, it develops brown or reddish streaks. In the centre of the labellum, there is a callus made up of a hairy plate and two round ridges. Flowering takes place from August to December. After flowering, the plant produces a capsule fruit that is 60–200 mm (2–8 inches) long and 8–15 mm (0.3–0.6 inches) wide. This species grows in forest, where it grows on eucalypts, stumps, and logs. It occurs in near-coastal areas and adjacent tablelands, ranging from Blackdown Tableland in Queensland to Waterfall in the Royal National Park, New South Wales.
