FLOWERING NATIVE ORCHIDS FOR MAY

The Gympie regional area has a very diverse habitat extending from the coastal areas to the mountain ranges. This supports a varies range of native orchids from threatened species of swamp orchid near the coast to the smallest specimen on the mountain ranges. Below is a sample of the flowering for May,2020.

Acianthus.

The two shown from this group are deciduous terrestrial herbs having a ground hugging single heart shaped leaf. The underground tuber supports a single flower spike. Very large colonies of basal leaves appear prior to flowering, unfortunately a great number of these sets are sterile plants and will not flower.This is the case with a number of the species that is represented in this blog.

Acianthus pusillus ----- mosquito  orchid

Acianthus tornicatus ---Pixie Caps

The mosquito orchid is only partly open and is very similar to the pixie caps. The hood is less pronounced and more upright. Note the heart shaped basal leaf and a number of other similar plants in the photo.

Chiloglottis sylvestris ----- macro of  Wasp orchid --- Labellum is the dark maroon colour.

Chiloglottis sylvestris.  Small Wasp Orchid ----- is a small terrestrial deciduous herb with two opposite leaves close to the ground. A single flower rises on a stem to 40 mm with a flower about 20 mm X 5mm . The plant is pollinated by a small wasp, which mistakes the Labellum for a female mate, thus distributing the pollen. 

Wasp orchid.

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The single flower is small and out of focus, example of the twin basal leaves. These orchids start to appear in April with very large colonies, only a few will flower. Most plants are sterile.

Northern Tom Cats -------Flower spent ------ seed pods setting. 

Liparis reflexa. ( Northern Tom Cats) is a lithophyte growing on rock faces.. The photo was taken near the top of the walking track to Mount Boulder Lookout (475 m). Reported the common name is due to the flower smelling like urine. Unable to confirm due to the steepness of the site.

Lipori reflexa ------ Northern Tom Cats orchid

Eriochilus  cucullatus   ----  Parson's band is a terrestrial,perennial herb with an underground tuber. A small leafless orchid which bears a single flower on a very fine stem. The white section of the flower relates to the orchids common name ( Parsons Bands).  This species common in our region.

Parsons Bands orchid ---- in a rocky outcrop at East Mullens area

Macro of Parson's Bands

Corybas barbaree ------ Fairy Lantern orchid

Corybas aconitiflorus  ------ banded or spurred orchid

part of a Corybas colony,  one open, another in bud with others most likely sterile plants.

Corbas  ------ commonly known as helmet orchids. They are small perennial, deciduous,terrestrial herbs with a single flower on a short stem. Very common in our region from the coast to mountains forming large colonies. The small flower is rather inconspicuous and short lived. Maybe four Corbas species are in our region.

Pterostylis -----known as Greenhood.     This is a very common terrestrial orchid for our region, growing from the coast to mountains. Ten or more of this family has been sighted and always on the lookout for a new lifer. A number of soft ground hugging  basal leaves form a rosette numbering from three to six leaves with a single flower raising from the centre. Some species have small leaves on the stem. The base flower colour is white with green,reddish or brown stripes. The early flowering species start in late April and others finish by the end of October as a general guide.

Pterostylis revolute ------ Autumn Greenhood

Pterostylis baptistii ----- King Greenhood

Pterostylis nutans ----- nodding Greenhood

The above is an example of the general colouring of Pterostylis with the feature formations differing in the collection of plants.

Posting and photos by Lionel and Jeanette

Specialist field support by Jean  with further assistance from Kerrie and Cameron

Comments on identification welcome