Orchids from Jervis Bay region

On Sunday I attended a group tour hosted by the Illawarra Branch of the Australasian Native Orchid Society. We convened at Seven Mile Beach, but then immediately went in convoy to the bush south from Nowra, in the general area of Jervis Bay National Park.

Firstly we stopped to look up into the Ironbark trees to peer at leaves of the Ironbark Orchid. (See this link for photos from an earlier trip.) Not much fun in that, when they are not flowering, and quite high anyway. However, we were treated to much more fun at the next stop.

We went to a point in Callala Beach. There is a sandy strip of roadside verge, opposite houses. There were so many Orchids visible that we had already seen them even before the cars had stopped - and we are talking small "Ladies Finger Orchids", here, not tall Hyacinth Orchids. Yet they certainly were visible.

The main species here was Petalochilus pictus (formerly Caladenia picta).

As often happens with these little "Ladies Fingers Orchids" (of many species) there is considerable variation between the individual flowers.

Type A - a classic "pictus"
Note the red blotch inside the column
with some green visible too.

Type B - with strong magenta wash over the white background.
Type C - the upper surface of the column is more visible.
Therefore the flower is showing more green.

This is another variant. Similar to Plant A above.

These are lovely plants in my opinion, and I really enjoyed seeing literally thousands of these flowers growing opposite suburban houses. I could not help wondering if the residents were aware of the treasures across the road?

There will be more Orchids to come over the following days.