Corymborkis Thours.
in Nouv. Bull. Sci. Soc. Philom. Paris 1:518(1809)

Introduction: Some 18 species known throughout the tropical parts of the world.

Derivation of genus name: The genus was described first by Thours in 1809. The name was taken from the Greek corymbos meaning 'clustered' and orchis meaning 'testicle'.

Type species: Corymborkis corymbis Thouars.

Characteristics of the genus: Evergreen terrestrial herbs, the vegetative appearance is more that of a ginger or grass, consisting of tall, slender, unbranched stems, up to 150 cm or more tall, arising from subterranean rhizomes; leaves thin, tough, pleated leaves alternately on the upper half of the stem; inflorescence is axillary, with many white and greenish-white flowers; sepals equal length, narrow; petals slightly shorter, slender and dilating towards their apices, labellum equal in length to sepals and petals; column long, slender straight, thickened at the end, rostellum erect, deeply two-lobed. The flowers of Corymborkis veratrifolia, a species found in North Queensland and New Guinea, have a spicy perfume.

Species line drawing: Corymborkis veratrifolia (Reinw.) Blume
drawn by N.H.S. Howcroft
Key to Illustration: A-B: top of stem with inflorescence; C: flower, side view;

Conservation status: not known