The orchid is Petalochilus fuscatus.
(previously known as Caldenia fuscata - but it is the same plant)
(previously known as Caldenia fuscata - but it is the same plant)
I have previously reported finding this Orchid growing on Black Mountain, in Canberra. As I recall it was one of the earliest of the "Finger Orchids" to flower.
Here it is with the noticeably long and hairy leaf.
Contrast that tall leaf with the flat (horizontal) leaf of the previous "Blue Caladenia" (now placed in a different genus of Cyanicula)
8 comments:
Beautiful flowers. I like the contrast of the petals with the lovely dark stripes of color in the 'throat' - don't know if that's the right word - just know I like it!
Hi Mick
Everyone will know exactly what you mean. Technically the rounded but at the top of the flower (the solid bit I mean) is the "Column", and the bit underneath that is the "Labellum" (tongue). Then there are two "wings on the the labellum, which give it those curved sides.
I like the little row of dots, which I remember hearing David Attenborough describe as "like aircraft landing lights on a runway - for Insects."
God description, for they are showing the insect the "way in" to the goodies inside the flower.
Technically they are scent glands.
I like the dark red striped labellum too.
Trouble is, one needs to get down on hands and knees to take such shots.
I reckon it is worth it.
Cheers
Denis
By the way, Mick, the other parts of the flower are "Dorsal and lateral sepals" and two petals. One can think of them all as petals, for convenience.
As the flower develops, the "outside" parts - protecting the inner parts in the bud stage, are sepals. The inner parts are "petals".
The tallest one, behind the column is the "Dorsal Sepal".
The two central lower "fingers" are lateral sepals.
The two widest spread "fingers" are petals. The Labellum is the last petal - but so highly modified that it takes on a totally different form.
There is an illustration I did of parts of an Orchid flower but some Orchids are upside down, compared to this one. So it does get hard to work out.
Here is a link to a new Zealand site which labels parts of a Caldenia (Finger Orchid) for you
Cheers
Denis
Hi Denis, thanks for taking the time and trouble to write out those explanations for me. I'm sure I can learn that - as long as I take my mind off the shorebirds for a while :-) I've just returned from Inskip again and the first shorebirds have just returned from the northern hemisphere - a very exciting time for shorebird enthusiasts! Also I have just photographed one which had been flagged in China.
Back to orchids again - I reckon photos like yours are definitely worth getting down on hands and knees to take! Thanks again for the explanations!
G'day Denis,
Nice one. Yep, that's early, not a sign of the 'fingers' down here yet, but hoping for a good crop after some winter precipitation - at last.
Gouldiae
Hi Gouldiae, and Martin (off line).
Thanks guys.
Yes it is an early flowered species, Gouldiae. Nice, but some of the larger ones, especially the taller ones with 3 or 4 flowers are more impressive.
Martin has queried me for the typo in my first "comment" about the Attenborough description of the "aircraft landing lights for insects". Yes, it was a typo "God description". I have not raised Attenborough to divine status.
Thanks guys.
Cheers
Denis
You live in a beautiful part of the world. Thanks for sharing it. Your blog is fantastic.
Thjanks Missy
By the looks of it, you do too.
We all do live in beautiful parts of the world, really - the trick is in "seeing" it.
That's what makes us Bloggers.
.
The world is wonderful, but so many people do not see or appreciate it.
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Keep up the good work.
Denis
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