Spurred Helmet Orchid

Corybas cheesemanii is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with a single heart-shaped to almost round leaf 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long but which is sometimes only a small green scale. The leaf is green on the upper surface and silvery green on the lower side. There is usually only a single flower varying in colour from dark pink through greyish white with purple specks or all white, and reaching to a height of 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in). The largest part of the flower is the dorsal sepal which is hood-like, completely covering the rest of the flower. The lateral sepals are tiny and the petals are usually not detectable. The labellum is cream-coloured or white, tube-shaped near the base with a narrow spur pointing downwards on either side at its base. Flowering occurs from May to September and is followed by a fruiting capsule which is up to 20 mm (0.8 in) on an elongated stem up to 220 mm (9 in) tall.

Cheesemans spider orchid grows in deep shade, often buried in deep rotting leaf litter in tall scrub or forest. It occurs on the North, South, Three Kings and Chatham Islands.