Corybas barbarae

(White Helmet Orchid)

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Found growing in colonies (sometimes amongst Acianthus fornicatus, Pterostylis baptistii and/or Chiloglottis sylvestris) this autumn-flowering Corybas is small (approx. 20mm flower) and ground-hugging. Like many other small terrestrial orchids it is deciduous and, like Chiloglottis sylvestris, after pollination its fruit is pushed upward above the surrounding grasses etc. on a stem up to 15cm tall from where the seed is dispersed. Its leaf is similar to that of Acianthus fornicatus, long, thin strap-like.