Another Midge Orchid - Corunastylis formosa (ID now uncertain 8.2.2014)

I am not going to waffle on much tonight, 
but simply present a bunch of photos from today.

Some of them are here simply because they are so "pretty".

Golden Everlastings with a "Looper Caterpillar"
feeding on the pollen of the Daisy flower.
From Mt Gibraltar - at the edge of the wet Eucalypt forest there.

A "Looper Caterpillar" feeding on pollen of  Golden Everlasting Daisy

An exciting moment for me. 
I saw a Wedge-tailed Eagle on the ground 

feeding on a road-killed Grey Kangaroo.

It was beside the road, 
and did not fly when I drove past.

I stopped up the road about 200 metres, 
and turned and drove back very quietly.

By the time I got back, the bird had flown to a tree

but it had not flown away....... Remarkable for a shy bird.

Click to enlarge. The "Wedgie" is giving me the "stare"

It was watching me intently

and even giving a high-pitched call.

You can hear a Wedgie's alarm call by clicking here.

Clearly it wanted me to drive away, 
so it could resume feeding.

I obliged it - by leaving it in peace.

Wedge-tailed Eagle, head turned reveals red colour on back of neck.

This post has been revised as the original plant ID was
eventually found not to be correct. 
Now, to deal with the promised Midge Orchid.

It is another "new species" for me.

Corunastylis formosa
It is known as the Cathcart Midge Orchid,
because it was first described from there - 
a small place east from Bombala, south-east from Cooma. 
See Map here. 

Apart from a single image in David Jones's Orchid book
I can find no published images of Corunastylis formosa
to act as a "verification" of my ID of this plant.

If I am correct in that comment, by the way,
then this may be the first photo of 
Corunastylis formosa available
on the Internet.
(DJW - I now regard that ID as uncertain - 9 Feb 2014)


I shall publish another Post in several days time,
with more detailed images of the plant and
also the original Botanical drawing published
by David Jones in the Orchadian 
when he formally "described" the species (i.e., "named it").

I believe I saw this species last year, but they were "past it"

and I don't believe I got a proper ID for these plants then.

I have since confirmed this ID with Alan Stephenson
and also by phone and email, with Colin Rowan.

These plants were growing in moist grass, 
close to (but not in) Butlers Swamp

at Tourist Road, Kangaloon.

Corunastylis formosa along Tourist Road

A slightly closer shot - showing the Cathcart Midge Orchid 
as one sees it when walking past.

It seems to like growing amongst grass 

about 12 inches high (approx 300mm).

Open grassland, with Eucalypts about, but not shading these plants,

Base soil is derived from sandstone, but fairly moist soil.

Corunastylis formosa - purplish labellum is fringed, dorsal sepal is not.

****************

And I promised to give you some more "pretties". 

The best Christmas Bells I have seen this season.

Christmas Bells at Butlers Swamp (on roadside verge)