Corybas spp.
helmet orchids
South and East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the southwest Pacific
Overview
Corybas spp. is a genus of roughly 120 species of small terrestrial orchids, commonly called helmet orchids, in the family Orchidaceae. The genus ranges across South and East Asia, the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the southwest Pacific. Each plant grows from a small subterranean tuber and produces a single heart- to kidney-shaped leaf, often pressed flat against the ground or leaf litter, measuring 0.4-1.2 in (1-3 cm) across. A solitary flower sits at or just above the leaf, 0.4-1.6 in (1-4 cm) tall, in which the enlarged hooded dorsal sepal and pouched lip form the helmet shape behind the common name. Flower colour ranges from translucent reddish and maroon to white, usually with darker veins. Plants are dormant for part of the year, dying back to the tuber during dry or cold seasons. Most species grow on shaded, humus-rich forest floors and among mosses, and they depend on specific mycorrhizal fungi, which makes them hard to cultivate or transplant. Many species have narrow ranges, and some are considered threatened in the wild.
Native Range
Species occur from the Himalayas and southern China through Southeast Asia to Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and islands of the southwest Pacific. The greatest concentration of species is in New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand.Suggested Uses
Grown by specialist orchid collectors in terraria, shallow pans, and shaded fernhouses rather than open gardens. In their native regions species occur as ground flora in moist forest and are pollinated mainly by fungus gnats.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1" - 4"
Width/Spread1" - 2"
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
translucent red, maroon, and white with darker veiningFoliage Description
green, sometimes silver-veined or purple-flushed beneathGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 3 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Across the genus, helmet orchids grow in deep to partial shade on consistently moist, humus-rich substrates, often among mosses. They require high humidity during the growing season and a drier rest while dormant. Growth depends on the presence of compatible mycorrhizal fungi, so plants rarely persist outside their native habitat or specialist collections. Most species are frost-tender and grow between 50 and 68 F (10 and 20 C). In cultivation they are kept in shallow pots or terraria with a free-draining, moisture-retentive mix. Disturbing the tubers during dormancy often kills the plant.Pruning
No pruning is required. Spent flowers and withering leaves are left to die back as the plant enters dormancy, returning nutrients to the tuber. Lifting the dormant tuber from its substrate generally ends growth.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons