Plant: dense colonies; leaf shortly stalked.

Flowers: large, 10-20 mm long, dorsal sepal almost transparent, streaked red veins ridged; labellum ragged, like a piece of meat, often with a long drip tip with a small bead in the throat.

Flowering: August to October.

Habitat: calcareous siltstone, mudstone and limestone and fertile soils; streamsides, damp areas.

Conservation: common, often locally abundant; not threatened. Auckland southwards.

Notes: like C. hatchii but appears to be distinguished by the bead in the throat. There are a number of similar plants that lack the bead in the throat but are often identified with this. Their taxonomic status is uncertain

Key features: large flower, dark labellum colour, ridged dorsal sepal.