Botanical name:

Corybas cheesemanii

Common name(s):

Helmet orchid, Cheeseman’s spider orchid

About:

C. cheesemanii is a small and delicate orchid that features a single pale green, heart-shaped leaf and typically showcases only a solitary flower, which can vary in colour from a rich maroon to a pure, completely white hue. This charming orchid usually thrives in deep shade, often found nestled within thick layers of leaf litter, and tends to bloom during the cooler months of autumn and winter.

Natural habitat:

Coastal to montane up to 1000m. Usually found in tall scrub or forest, in dark shaded sites, partially buried in deep, moist, semi-rotted leaf litter, especially under kanuka (Kunzea ericoides, K. robusta, K. serotina and K. triregensis) and Beech (Fuscospora and Lophozonia spp.). Often associated with Corybas cryptanthus.

Growing environment:

Shade, Wetland, Wind & Coastal tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s Three Kings, North, South and Chatham Islands.

Height: 2.5 – 20cm

Flowering: 

May - September with a maroon – violet coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

November - January

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food & Forests

How to grow:

Difficult and should never be removed from the wild.