#572 - 582 - Orchid Megapost 1
#572 - Pterostylis vittata - Banded Greenhood Orchid
The first of a number of Orchids I’ve seen lately, winter being the main wildflower season in Western Australia.
I found this one while on a field trip to Sullivan Rock, with the WA Naturalists Club, in Tuart forest just north of the rock.
Banded Greenhoods are found across southern Australia, although this species in confined to the SW. The first thing I noticed about it are the transparent windows in the hood, and Admiral Ackbar’s famous quote immediately came to mind - “IT’S A TRAP!”
I was right too - Greenhoods use Fungus Gnats as pollinators, with each species luring a different species of gnat. According to Mitch Smith, who IDed the species for me:
In regards to it pollination small Fungus Gnats are attracted to its hinged and tactile labellum which emits kairomones (compounds which mimic pheromones), and in an attempt to copulate with it, it is ‘flung’ into the hooded part of the flower. The translucence of the ‘hood’ is not quite understood but is believed to direct the trapped insect into the column structure, where it is then forced to squeeze though a small opening, collecting or depositing pollen on the way through.
#573 - Caladenia flava - Cowslip Orchid
aka Butter Orchid. Another species found in only SW Australia - there’s a reason the region is famous for the number of species found here and nowhere else in the world.
Despite that, actually fairly common, and tolerant of a wide range of soil types including sand, laterite, and granite. As you can see, it only has one long single leaf at a time.
Wellard, Perth
#574 - Caladenia latifolia - Pink Fairy Orchid
Quite different to the Cowslip Orchid, C. flava, but you ain’t seen nothing yet. These two are about as simple as Caladenia flower anatomy gets.
Under eucalypts, in doomed bushland in Wandi.
#575 - Caladenia discoidea - Bee Orchid
I thought this was another, more elaborate Caladenia, and happily I was right. Variously known as Dancing Spider Orchid, Antelope Orchid, Bee Orchid, and Dancing Orchid.
Wellard, Perth.
#576 - White Cowslip Orchid
Caladenia flava again, but the rarer white form.
Jandakot, Perth
#577 - Caladenia flava x ? - Cowslip Hybrid
A hybrid Caladenia flava - they hydridise quite easily, most often with the Pink Fairy C. latifolia.
Wellard, Perth
#578 - Diuris brumalis - Winter Donkey Orchid
One of the earlier-flowering orchids each winter. Donkey Orchids appear to be imitating the colour of many of our native peas, but don’t have any nectar - just going to show that even when they’re not trapping insects, Australian orchids are still bastards. Diuris refers to the two tails hanging beneath the blossom.
Found in laterite and granite soils along the Darling Range.
Aubin Grove, Perth
#579 - Diuris magnifica - Magnificent Donkey Orchid
Also known as the Pansy Orchid, and found only in a thin coastal strip between Kalbarri and Mandurah. This was the first of what looked to be dozens just starting to bloom in a small patch of remnant bushland in Hammond Park
#580 - Diuris corymbosa - Common Donkey Orchid
Relatively small, yellow and brown Donkey Orchids. Like the other Diurus, duping pollinating insects by pretending to be one of our native peas, many of which have similar colour schemes..
#581 - Elythranthera brunonis - Purple Enamel Orchid
Another species found only in SW Western Australia - a pretty little thing.
Jandakot, Perth
#582 - Pyrorchis nigricans - Red Beak or Elephant Ear Orchid
This is what I saw first - flat single leaves, spread across the ground. I immediately sprang to my feet and ran around like a maniac trying to find one in bloom, because I recognised what they were - Red Beak Orchids! The ground was covered in them, and, happily, one was actually in bloom.
Also known as Black Fire Orchids, since they bloom most often after summer fires, then turn black. This is a problem, since any fires that start in summer are promptly put out by the fire brigades, and controlled burns in winter kill the plant when it’s growing. Around Perth, therefore, it’s requiring arsonists and accidental fires to thrive.
Wellard, Perth
Many more orchids to follow - there were nine species on the Goodall Reserve trip alone!
The first of a number of Orchids I’ve seen lately, winter being the main wildflower season in Western Australia.
I found this one while on a field trip to Sullivan Rock, with the WA Naturalists Club, in Tuart forest just north of the rock.
Banded Greenhoods are found across southern Australia, although this species in confined to the SW. The first thing I noticed about it are the transparent windows in the hood, and Admiral Ackbar’s famous quote immediately came to mind - “IT’S A TRAP!”
I was right too - Greenhoods use Fungus Gnats as pollinators, with each species luring a different species of gnat. According to Mitch Smith, who IDed the species for me:
In regards to it pollination small Fungus Gnats are attracted to its hinged and tactile labellum which emits kairomones (compounds which mimic pheromones), and in an attempt to copulate with it, it is ‘flung’ into the hooded part of the flower. The translucence of the ‘hood’ is not quite understood but is believed to direct the trapped insect into the column structure, where it is then forced to squeeze though a small opening, collecting or depositing pollen on the way through.
#573 - Caladenia flava - Cowslip Orchid
aka Butter Orchid. Another species found in only SW Australia - there’s a reason the region is famous for the number of species found here and nowhere else in the world.
Despite that, actually fairly common, and tolerant of a wide range of soil types including sand, laterite, and granite. As you can see, it only has one long single leaf at a time.
Wellard, Perth
#574 - Caladenia latifolia - Pink Fairy Orchid
Quite different to the Cowslip Orchid, C. flava, but you ain’t seen nothing yet. These two are about as simple as Caladenia flower anatomy gets.
Under eucalypts, in doomed bushland in Wandi.
#575 - Caladenia discoidea - Bee Orchid
I thought this was another, more elaborate Caladenia, and happily I was right. Variously known as Dancing Spider Orchid, Antelope Orchid, Bee Orchid, and Dancing Orchid.
Wellard, Perth.
#576 - White Cowslip Orchid
Caladenia flava again, but the rarer white form.
Jandakot, Perth
#577 - Caladenia flava x ? - Cowslip Hybrid
A hybrid Caladenia flava - they hydridise quite easily, most often with the Pink Fairy C. latifolia.
Wellard, Perth
#578 - Diuris brumalis - Winter Donkey Orchid
One of the earlier-flowering orchids each winter. Donkey Orchids appear to be imitating the colour of many of our native peas, but don’t have any nectar - just going to show that even when they’re not trapping insects, Australian orchids are still bastards. Diuris refers to the two tails hanging beneath the blossom.
Found in laterite and granite soils along the Darling Range.
Aubin Grove, Perth
#579 - Diuris magnifica - Magnificent Donkey Orchid
Also known as the Pansy Orchid, and found only in a thin coastal strip between Kalbarri and Mandurah. This was the first of what looked to be dozens just starting to bloom in a small patch of remnant bushland in Hammond Park
#580 - Diuris corymbosa - Common Donkey Orchid
Relatively small, yellow and brown Donkey Orchids. Like the other Diurus, duping pollinating insects by pretending to be one of our native peas, many of which have similar colour schemes..
#581 - Elythranthera brunonis - Purple Enamel Orchid
Another species found only in SW Western Australia - a pretty little thing.
Jandakot, Perth
#582 - Pyrorchis nigricans - Red Beak or Elephant Ear Orchid
This is what I saw first - flat single leaves, spread across the ground. I immediately sprang to my feet and ran around like a maniac trying to find one in bloom, because I recognised what they were - Red Beak Orchids! The ground was covered in them, and, happily, one was actually in bloom.
Also known as Black Fire Orchids, since they bloom most often after summer fires, then turn black. This is a problem, since any fires that start in summer are promptly put out by the fire brigades, and controlled burns in winter kill the plant when it’s growing. Around Perth, therefore, it’s requiring arsonists and accidental fires to thrive.
Wellard, Perth
Many more orchids to follow - there were nine species on the Goodall Reserve trip alone!