Alan agreed to meet me at the site this morning. I can now confirm that there is no doubt about it. Petalochilus hillmanii has been positively identified as growing in the damp peaty soil found under a powerline easement which runs to a Telstra communications tower on Cambewarra Range at an altitude of approximately 600 metres above sea level.
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| long range habitat view to the Telstra Radio Tower |
The habitat immediately around these plants is dense head-high Melaleuca thicket (with Eucalypts in the drier ridges, away from the Meleleuca thicket). But the Orchids are only visible along the slashed powerline easement, which is covered with various wet-land plants such as various rush-like things, Tall Sundews, and lots of alpine swamp-loving species of Xanthorrhoea (Grass Trees). The base soil underneath his dense peaty soil is obviously sandy soil over a rock shelf.
To explain about the habitat, anyone who knows Cambewarra Mountain would assume this is rainforest habitat. Although such habitat does exist close by, on the same mountain (though mostly on basalt soil) this habitat is a moist soak, over sandstone. It is akin to a "Upland Swamp", but with Melaleuca thicket instead of sedge and rush plants. Once the Melaleuca plants were slashed to create the powerline easement, then the rush-like plants have established as the dominant plant form. This has also allowed the Orchids and Sundews and many low heath plants to colonise this area.
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| Orchid pollinia stuck on the tip of the dorsal sepal |
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| Sign indicating the beginning of Nature Reserve. |
Despite that sign, the the local people know this area as Red Rocks Nature Reserve. It shows up that way,
on Google Maps of the area.
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