Corybas sulcatus starting to flower (viii)

Description:

Corybas sulcatus (Grooved helmet-orchid) is one of two endemic orchids which occur on Macquarie Island. The other being Corybas dienemus. Both species are listed as threatened. This photo was taken of the first flowering of this species at the RTBG, after two plants were collected on Macquarie Island by RTBG Horticultural Botanist, Ms Natalie Tapson, in the summer of 2017. It shows the flower continuing to unfurl, seventeen days after the first photo. Dorsal sepals still uncurling, one lateral petal extended and the other just starting to unfurl.