Corycium is a genus of terrestrial orchid species comprising some 14 species in Eastern and Southern Africa including 10 species native to the fynbos. In South Africa they are called Monkshood Orchids. Their resting stage is a tuber and when growing they have many leaves scattered along the stem but concentrated near the base.

Growing orchids from seed is a fairly specialized undertaking and it requires a bit of understanding of tissue culture techniques. If you have never grown orchids from seed we recommend that before attempting this you should first contact your local Orchid Society, or purchase a book on the subject, or both!

Corycium nigrescens commonly known as Black-faced Orchid in English and Moederkappie in Afrikaans is a South African indigenous species from the Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces. It is synonymously known as Pterygodium nigrescens. This summer rainfall area plant grows to 40 cm tall. It has lanceolate leaves and during summer it bears a dense inflorescence of purple-brown flowers.