Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asparagales Link
Family
Orchidaceae Juss.
Genus
Corybas Salisb.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Corybas cryptanthus Hatch (1956)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Corybas saprophyticus Hatch, Trans. Roy. Soc. New Zealand 79: 366-367 (1952) nom. illeg., non Corybas saprophyticus (Schltr.) Schltr. 1923
  • ≡ Molloybas cryptanthus (Hatch) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., 13: 449 (2002)
 Description

Plant almost wholly beneath surface of lf-mould, lacking chlorophyll but flecked with red and brown; fl. just emergent. Erect stem carrying capsule to height of c. 15 cm; rhizome c. 1 mm. diam., to 10 cm. long, ± horizontal, laxly branched, apparently without roots. Lvs represented only by small pale scales at intervals of c. 1 cm. along rhizome, one at base of fl.-stem us. slightly larger. Floral bract > ovary. Per. translucent white to pale pink, ± streaked with red. Dorsal sepal about as long as labellum, narrow-lanceolate, acuminate; lateral sepals long, filiform, much exceeding labellum. Petals similar to lateral sepals but shorter. Labellum c. 15 mm. long, auriculate at base, the margins meeting behind the column and for about ½ total length, the distal portion expanded, ± deflexed but never abruptly, the free margin upturned and fringed with coarse, sts branched laciniae, the central part thickened and papillose.

[From: Moore and Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 2 as Corybas cryptanthus Hatch]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [as Molloybas cryptanthus (Hatch) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.] [Naturally uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Naturally Uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [as Molloybas cryptanthus (Hatch) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.] [Naturally Uncommon]
Hatch, E.D. 1952: A new species of Corybas Salisbury, and a note on some name changes in Wahlenbergia Schrader. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 79: 366–369.
Jones, D.L.; Clements, M.A.; Sharma, I.K.; Mackenzie, A.M.; Molloy, B.J.P. 2002: Nomenclatural notes arising from studies into the tribe Diurideae (Orchidaceae). The Orchadian 13(10): 437–468.