About Corybas despectans D.L.Jones & R.C.Nash
Corybas despectans, commonly called the tiny helmet orchid, is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb. It produces a single round or heart-shaped leaf that measures 8–25 mm (0.3–1 in) long and 12–30 mm (0.5–1 in) wide. The upper surface of the leaf is green, while the lower surface is silvery green. This orchid bears a single erect flower that is reddish purple with green or translucent areas, measuring 7–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long and 9–11 mm (0.35–0.43 in) wide. The dorsal sepal is greenish grey, erect on its lower portion before curving, and measures 6–11 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. It does not usually completely cover the labellum. The lateral sepals are about 5 mm (0.2 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide; they are joined at their bases before tapering to a fine tip. The petals are about 2 mm (0.08 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide, widest at the base before tapering to a thread-like tip. The labellum is longer than the dorsal sepal, measuring 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long and 9–11 mm (0.35–0.43 in) wide. It is reddish and has obvious visible veins. Flowering occurs between June and September. This species forms colonies in forests and scrubland, and is very common in some locations. It has a disjunct distribution, occurring in western Victoria and on the Mornington Peninsula, in the south-east of South Australia including Kangaroo Island, and in Western Australia between Bunbury and Israelite Bay.
