Corsia ornata

The Corsiaceae lack chlorophyll and hence the ability to photosynthesise, instead being mycoheterotrophic (deriving nutrition as parasites on fungi). C. ornata, although perennial, only appears above ground when flowering, arising from short creeping rhizomes, reaching up to 25 cm in height. From the rhizomes, arise long, cylindrical and finely corrugated, unbranched and upright growing stems that are terete (almost circular in cross section) and narrowly ribbed. The above ground portion of the plant is a purplish to purplish-red in color. Leaves are reduced to acute (sharply pointed) sheath-shaped scales 1–2 cm in length, arranged alternately on the stem, with 3–5 nerves and similar bracts. The pedicels are glabrous and 2.5–4 cm long.

The upright individual flowers are terminal and stand on flower stems that are 2.5–4 cm long. Of the six tepals (in two whorls), five are linear, obtuse and pale yellow in colour, 11–13 millimeters long, one-nerved and hairless. The sixth, outer tepal, called the labellum, is either light yellow to light purple with a darker purple veins nerve or purplish brown. It is greatly enlarged (1.2–1.8 cm long, 1–1.6 cm wide) and cordate (heart-shaped) and obtuse, with a cordate base. The labellum initially surrounds the flower bud and, after opening, protects the other flower organs. …

Corsia ornata is found at a number of widely spaced locations in the western part of New Guinea, particularly on Bird's Head Peninsula. One sighting in Queensland, Australia, makes it the only species found outside of New Guinea. Corsia ornata occurs in forests, between 400 and 2,100 m, in humus rich soils.