Corybas cerasinus

Corybas cerasinus, commonly known as the red helmet orchid, is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to tropical north Queensland. It has a single bluish green, heart-shaped leaf and a cherry red to dark maroon flower with its curved dorsal sepal obscuring its labellum which has an upturned tip.

Description
Corybas cerasinus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with a single heart-shaped leaf 12-25 mm long and 10-14 mm wide, lying flat on the ground. The leaf is bluish green on the upper surface and purplish on the lower side. There is a single erect, cherry red to dark maroon flower 9-13 mm long and 5-9 mm wide. The largest part of the flower is the dorsal sepal which is egg-shaped to oblong when flattened, 15-23 mm long and 6-10 mm wide. The lateral sepals are linear, about 1.5 mm long and the petals are about 1 mm long. The labellum is mostly hidden by the dorsal sepal but has edges which turn upwards and a few tiny bristles. Flowering occurs from June to August.

Taxonomy
Corybas cerasinus was first formally described in 2001 by David Jones and Bruce Gray from a specimen collected on Mount Walker and the description was published in The Orchadian. The specific epithet (cerasinus) is a Latin word meaning "cherry-coloured".

Distribution and habitat
The red helmet orchid grows in forest in colonies with often only a few plants in flower. It is found between Cooktown and the Herbert River and also on Dunk Island.