Epipogium roseum

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 60cm tall with up to 40 flowers.  The individual flower is about 10mm 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.