Ghost orchid, leafless nodding orchid

This terrestrial saprophyte grows in moist rainforest usually in rotting timber. The flower stem emerges after heavy rain but is short lived lasting only a week or two.

This orchid has no leaves being a saprophyte but merely an underground tuberous rhizome. The flower stem grows to 60 cm tall with up to 40 flowers. The individual flower is about 10 mm long on a conspicuous fat ovary. The drooping flower does not open widely and is cream with purple spots on the labellum.

This is a very distinctive orchid and cannot be confused with any other orchid.