Corybas circinatus facts for kids

Corybas circinatus is a unique type of flowering plant. It belongs to the orchid family, known for its beautiful and often unusual flowers. This specific orchid is found only on the island of Palawan in the Philippines. It was first seen and photographed on Mount Victoria in June 2007.

This special orchid is the second of its kind, from the Corybas group, to be discovered on Palawan island.

Discovering the Orchid

Scientists first found and studied Corybas circinatus in 2020. The research was started by the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative, Inc. This group works to find and identify new plant and animal species in the Philippines. Finding new species helps us learn more about the amazing variety of life on Earth.

What Makes It Special?

Corybas circinatus has several features that make it different from other orchids.

• It has a small, special bump on the front of its flower stem.
• Its main petal, called the labellum, has four distinct parts.
• The top part of its flower, called the dorsal sepal, curves strongly inwards.
• The colors of its flowers and leaves are also very unique.

This orchid grows in specific types of soil called ultramafic habitats. These are soils rich in certain minerals. It also grows in areas from lowlands to mid-mountain regions, which is unusual for Corybas orchids found in the Philippines.