The plants of summer

I have observed already that the Little Tongue Orchid (Cryptostylis leptochila) is coming on to flower. (Click on the photo for a larger view).

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In the local Eucalypt forests, on the sandstone and black soil areas of the Robertson district (not on the red basalt soil areas) one can see these little Orchids coming up everywhere.

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It is a really common plant, which is not obvious, at first. You can spot it frequently, once you get your "eye in" (and learn what to look for). Look for the upright purple-backed leaves amongst the leaf litter.

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The Catchment Authority boys slash the roadside verge along Tourist Road, in the drier areas in East Kangaloon and towards Glenquarry.


This slashing keeps the shrubbery down, and prevents tree re-growth. This makes a perfect environment for the little native perennial flowers.

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Hyacinth Orchids (Dipodium roseum)
(DJW Edit 2.Jan 2010 Actually after much investigation and comparison of many live specimens I can confirm now that these particular plants are Dipodium punctatum, not D. roseum, as I previously thought. DJW)

With their 60 - 90 Cm high flowering spikes of pink flowers, they are commonly and easily seen in December and January.


Masses of smaller pink spikes of flowers visible from the car as you drive along the road, are Trigger Plants (Stylidium graminifolium).



The other really obvious flowers at present are yellow-flowered Goodenia flowers. They are are clearly visible, on 40 cm high spikes arising from basal rosettes of leaves.



So although the main prolific flowering of Ground Orchids has passed, there is still masses of colour out there in the bush.