Brachycorythis pubescens

Brachycorythis pubescens, commonly known as the hairy helmet orchid, is a ground orchid. The specific epithet, pubescens, is a Latin word meaning downy or slightly hairy, referring to the leaf and stem hairiness. This is a slender to robust perennial reaching up to 45 cm in height, growing from thick, cylindrical tubers.

The hairy and visibly veined leaves are small and pointed, spiralling up the stem while sheathing it at the base of each. Leaf size is about 5 cm by 1,7 cm.

The species distribution is widespread, from southern KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo to tropical Africa.

The habitat is open grassland at elevations from the coast to 1500 m. The species is not considered threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Pooley, 1998; Lowrey and Wright, 1987; www.redlist.sanbi.org).