NSW Christmas Bush on edge of Barrengarry Mountain

The NSW Christmas Bush Ceratopetalum gummiferum is not rare, but it is certainly not common in this Southern Highlands district. I have seen a dense stand of these trees out on Meryla Pass Road, way out along that road, some 8 kms beyond "Manchester Square". But this season I have seen these NSW Christmas Bushes flowering at the top of the Barrengarry Mountain pass (on the Nowra to Fitzroy Falls road). These plants are growing on each side of the council border, between Wingecarribee Shire and Shoalhaven Shire. So, some of them are clearly within the Southern Highlands region.

NSW Christmas bush in full colour
on the top edge of Barrengarry Mountain

Most of the Barrengarry climb takes you through dense, wet rainforest. There the dominant trees (the noticeable ones in flower at present, anyway, are Coachwoods. Their reddish-brown "flowers" (bracts actually) make these huge trees clearly visible at present. However, as one approaches the top of the hill, one gets to a shelf, where you are above the rainforest, and starting to enter the drier Eucalypt and Hakea forest. And there is a power line easement where the larger Eucalypts have been removed, but the mid-sized Christmas Bushes have not been removed. So they are receiving full sun, which they obviously love, and they are in full colour at present.

A low growing branch of NSW Christmas Bush
at eye height.
The 6 to 9 inch thick trunk is visible behind the "flowers".
So, by my reckoning these would be classed as small trees.

Their fruiting bodies (the calyx and the nut which forms once the flowers have finished) are bright red. Their calyxes are considerable redder than the closely related Coachwood trees, growing at a lower level in the wet forest. The area where these Christmas Bushes are growing has large sandstone rocky outcrops. But the edge of the sandstone escarpment is blunted here. It is not a cliff line (that is below). So the simplest way to describe where they are growing is to refer to it as a shelf, just above the Kangaroo Valley (Barrengarry) escarpment. 

Sepals and the nut of NSW Christmas Bush
showing its true, bright colour.
This shows small whispy "petals"
surrounding the "nut"
- a feature missing in the
related plant - the Coachwood.

The leaf of the NSW Christmas Bush is trifoliate.
Each leaflet has a prominent rib
which is set in a channel.
Leaflet edges are finely toothed.
By contrast, the Coachwood is classed as 1-foliate.
It has a much larger, longer single-bladed leaf.

The under-side of the NSW Christmas Bush leaf.
It shows distinct, fine venations
with a central rib clearly prominent on each leaflet.
The leaf edges are finely toothed.

Wet June, but Camellias flowering happily

I have recorded 428mm of rain this June. That mostly fell over two days, when I took photos at Carrington Falls.

Carrington Falls at the peak of the recent rain.

The early-flowering large-flowered Camellias, namely the non_Sasanquas, in my garden don't mind the heavy rain we have had.

Donna Hertzila DeFreitas Maghaelas
It has unusual violet shaded flowers

Camellia x Williamsii "Bryan"
I love this flower,
and it falls away cleanly,
leaving the bush with fresh flowers (only).

Looking down over Kangaroo Valley
It might not yet have finished raining.

Orchids start earlier in Kangaroo Valley than Robbo

The orchids of Cambewarra Mountain and Kangaroo Valley are starting up. These plants flower about a month earlier than the same species, up on the Robertson Plateau. Some of these plants are nearly as high (in altitude) as Robertson. But Kangaroo Valley is in a "lens" and captures the sun and heats up. And Cambewarra Mountain is exposed to the milder coastal weather. So, either or both of those factors might explain what is going on here.

Sarcochilus falcatus - the Orange-blossom Orchid.
These are at Cambewarra Mountain.

Sarcochilus falcatus - the Orange-blossom Orchid.

Sarcochilus falcatus - the Orange-blossom Orchid.
Growing on the side of a Blackwood Wattle.

Dagger orchid clump clinging to the bark, and Rock Felt Ferns
Dockrillia pugioniformis

Dagger Orchid - as close as I can get to them.
Dockrillia pugioniformis

These Prasophyllum brevilabre were doing very well, in an area down in the lower end of the Kangaroo Valley where there had been a "burn-off" the previous season.

This accords with the reputation of many of these Leek Orchids as benefitting from  a burn-off. Given that I had just come from seeing a related plant (below) which was barely able to hold its flower stem together, I was impressed with how well these plants were doing. It tends to confirm the "do well after a fire" theory.

  

Prasophyllum brevilabreShort-lipped Leek orchid

Prasophyllum brevilabreShort-lipped Leek orchid

Prasophyllum brevilabreShort-lipped Leek orchid

These tall Leek Orchids were in very bad condition, reflecting the obvious dry season we are having here (south from Sydney). This plant stem had grown then snapped over. Others had shrivelled without opening any flowers. The only healthy plants I saw were several "smart" ones which had not attempted to flower. They were doing OK.

Prasophyllum elatum
Tall Leek Orchid

One thing to note, the Epiphytic Orchids of Upper Kangaroo Valley are not yet in flower. That includes the same species as here - Sarcochilus falcatus, and also the Dockrillia linguiformis

Sometimes I feel like Christopher Columbus

We all know the story that Columbus had to persuade his crew that they were not about to fall off the edge of the world. It might be a myth, but that doesn't matter, for my purposes, tonight.

My yard, and down to Belmore Falls.
Beyond that - "There be Dragons"

 This is the view I have had for nearly three days, gazing out over the Kangaroo Valley, towards the southern end of the mighty Shoalhaven Valley.

It looks for all intents and purposes as if the world stops beyond Belmore Falls, the edge of the escarpment below Robertson. 

A closer view - showing "the edge of the world"

I know that Kangaroo Valley and the
 Shoalhaven Valley (all the way to Sassafras)
  is there - but can I see it?

Nope.
There is just a wall of cloud and nothing beyond.

Hence my Christopher Columbus fantasy.

In the Eye of the Storm

Last evening I wrote about how a particular storm was "coming to get us"
We scored a hit, here in the Southern Highlands of NSW, and our colleagues just to the north - in the George's River catchment.

I have received 86 mm of rain overnight.

The southern edge of Sydney is on flood alert - Menangle, Liverpool, Engadine, Wolli Creek, and Audley Weir in the Royal National Park is closed (though it goes out at regular intervals). I have just heard that the Nerriga Road has water across the road, 4 Km south from the village. There are no warning signs and no police there, apparently. Jerrara Dam (water storage for Kiama - between Kiama and Jamberoo) is on "Orange Alert" - indicating a possibility of some prospect of inundation. Apparently an alert system is in place, for persons living down stream for the Dam.

I repeat the comments made previously, please do not cross any flooded roads.

There have been landslips on the Moss Vale Road (into Kangaroo Valley). A Policeman apparently was assisting with the clean up, when the road edge gave way while he was there. He was carried down the hillside some 30 metres. Radio reports said he ended up being saved by vines entangling him, and preventing him slip further. He was eventually rescued at about 3:00am, and taken to Nowra Hospital. At least he came out of it OK.

There have been rock falls on Macquarie Pass, but the road is said to be open - one may drive down the Pass with caution.

Here is the RTA "Traffic Live" web page screenshot.

Traffic Live site 8 March 2012.

If you go to the Traffic Live webpage where you may check local conditions. The blue icons will open up a box telling you the local details. Around the Upper Lachlan, and Goulburn-Mulwarree Shires, and of course, further down river at Forbes and further south at Wagga, lists of flooded roads will appear for your information.

It is a useful site to store, for future reference.

The strong winds accompanying this storm worry me more than the rain. Not that I have many huge trees on my block, but I would not like to try to take any of the main roads in and out of Robertson today. Huge trees get loosed in the wet soil, and can come down.

This is what is driving this weather.

 The high has move east since last night, and the low is sitting off Bega, dumping rain onto us and Sydney.

You can update your information from the Weather Bureau's Barometric Chart page

Cryptostylis erecta (the Bonnet Orchid, or Tartan Orchid)

Cryptostylis erecta is a Tongue Orchid, but it is better known as the "Bonnet Orchid", or the "Tartan Orchid".

It tends to grow in coastal areas, but is known to occur in the Blue Mountains as well. But when I went out with Alan Stephenson the other day, to Leebold Hill (Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve) above Kangaroo Valley, I  said to Alan that I was hoping to find the Bonnet Orchid. It may occur in my immediate area of Robertson/Kangaloon/Fitzroy Falls, but I do not know of it growing there. Hence my interest in looking for it, on the wonderful high ridge above Cambewarra, and Kangaroo Valley. The habitat is similar to my local sandstone plateau areas, but it is warmer and wetter over there. The altitude is similar, but the Shoalhaven Valley region has a climate all of its own.

One can see why it earns both common names.

Bonnet Orchid, for the shape,

and Tartan Orchid for the colour and patterns.

Bonnet Orchid Cryptostylis erecta

Here it is, as I first found it.

It is growing in moist mossy soil, amongst grasses and rushes

over a shallow rock shelf (exposed rocks in background).

Bonnet Orchid Cryptostylis erecta

A closer view, to show the shape of the flowers.

Bonnet Orchid Cryptostylis erecta

Here is another close-up of the flower.

Add caption

It is appropriate to mention that this species is the main one featured in that Video I linked to last week, about "sexual deception" of Wasps by Orchids. Video by Macquarie University people (as named in the Video credits). That previous post was primarily about a related plant Cryptostylis subulata

And just for the record, the botanical illustration on the PlantNET site, for this species, Cryptostylis erecta actually illustrates the pollination process in detail.

Click on image to see in full size. 

Note the wasp pollinating the top-right flower, 

and the "reproductive organs" of the flower drawn in detail.

Original sketch by L. Elkan.

Botanical illustration for Cryptostylis erecta (courtesy of PlantNET)

Beard Orchids (Calochilus sp)

The "Beardies" are coming into bloom.

This is the Red Beard Orchid, Calochilus paludosus.

Its specific name means "swamp-liking", as seemed appropriate for this specimen, which was growing amongst rushes on a "soak", high on Leebold Hill at Red Rock Reserve (top of Cambewarra Range), above Kangaroo Valley. But it can also be found on dry sandstone slopes in Kangaloon.

As these flowers mature (especially in warm weather) the dorsal sepals of this species will open virtually to a reflex position (almost lying flat - backwards).

All of these images might need to be clicked on, to enlarge them, to see the details.

Calochilus paludosus - Red Beard Orchid - side view

Calochilus paludosus - Red Beard Orchid - note the golden base of the labellum

This next species was previously known as Calochilus robertsonii, but has now been re-named.

Calochilus platychilus - Purple Beard Orchid

Calochilus platychilus - Purple Beard Orchid

Calochilus platychilus - low angle view to show the column details.

Calochilus paludodus showing the fully reflexed dorsal sepal

 This plant was photographed yesterday at Douglas Park,

above the Nepean River,

at the St Mary's Tower monastery..

It does also grow at Kangaloon and in Kangaroo Valley.
The third local species is the "Copper Beard Orchid" 
Calochilus campestris.

Calochilus campestris - note the large "nose" (the column)

Calochilus campestris has two dark, flattened plates high on the labellum

Goanna roaming on Tallowa Dam road.

Down in the Kangaroo Valley last weekend, on the Tallowa Dam Road, we saw three Goannas within one kilometre. Two were large, almost scary I would have to say.

Goannas are technically known as Lace Monitors, or Varanus varius.

Goanna up a small tree.

The first was on the road, and it made its way straight up a tree. That is normal Goanna behaviour, as far as I know. At first it climbed about 4 metres high. Then it seemed to get a bit nervous as I was busy trying to get a good shot of it. So it climbed a bit further. I would estimate that it was nearly 2 metres long. 
It had a large prominent abdomen. I have no idea what it had in its stomach, but there is a prominent ridge visible in its stomach, so I can only guess that it had recently consumed something with a long tail - most likely a large snake. But that is a guess.

Look at the extended belly. Lunch might have been a snake.

Varanus varius head and front feet claws

Second Goanna - roaming actively.

We continued down the road and saw an even larger Goanna. I would say this one was over 2.5 metres head to tail. Look at the length of the neck and the size of the head - side on. It was roaming actively, just off the road, on a lower level than the road. 
Early in our encounter, it came close up, towards me, and believe me, I was nervous. Its tongue was flicking out, repeatedly "tasting the air".  Fortunately there was a broken shrub between the Goanna and me.

Tongue flicking is the way Goannas "sniff out their prey"

It then turned back and continued roaming actively on the rock shelf below the road edge. I am glad it decided not to keep coming towards me - knowing the size of the claws on the other Goanna.

 From the sublime to the ridiculous, we saw a small young Goanna on the road. Kirsten stopped ot prevent running over it, and it ran under her car, as another car approached - on this fairly busy road. It must then have scampered off, for we did not see it again. It had a small forked tongue, just like the adult I had just seen.


Three Goannas in one kilometre of road is pretty amazing.

A striking Beard Orchid.

This is a wonderful specimen of the "Copper Beard Orchid" Calochilus campestris.

I have seen this plant once before, in the Royal National Park. But it was a poor specimen compared to this one. This one was growing in a slashed grassland roadside verge, along Tallowa Dam Road, towards the far end of the plateau, before the road drops down to the Dam. It is adjacent to the Morton National Park (Lower Kangaroo Valley section).

This new photo is added in response to Mick's comment.
She always likes habitat shots.
Background is "dry" Eucalypt forest on sandstone ridge,
in a high rainfall area. Not "wet forest" though.
The white flowers are Conospermum about 60 cm high
Masses of Trigger Plants and purple Native Iris (Pattersonia)
grow along these verges,

.
.
Plus one tall Bearded Orchid.

First thing to note is the size of the full plant - 95 cm tall
(with some buds yet to develop).
Click to enlarge image.Here is the flower viewed from the side.
Note the hooded position of the dorsal sepal
(that is a flower shape shared with Calochilus robertsonii)
Note: the naked end of the labellum is reflexed under the flower.
Here is the front view of the flower.
Note the amazing coloured "plate"
- two blueish purple lines leading down
to the hairs on the main section of the labellum.
The hairs are very dark in the centre of the labellum,
but towards the base, the hairs are light green.
The anther (the bit of the flower enclosing the pollinia)
is very long.
It looks like a long green-grey "nose".
That impression is heightened by the two "false eyes"
which are dark spots - one on either side of the column.
It resembles some bizarre caricatured face.
This is a technical shot only.
I got this by tilting the stem backwards, so I could
"look up into the column".
That tilting reveals the pollinia still in place in the anther
beneath the "nose" on the "face" of the flower.
The fleshy pink/white section is part of the column.

Another New Photo
This is my effort to bring to life Kirsten's suggestion
in the comments (below) that my Orchid looked like
one of the Ents from Lord of the Rings.
Click to enlarge, to see how "world weary" my Orchid can look.

Orchids of Tallowa Dam road, Kangaroo Valley

Today I was invited by Beth Boughton to go down to the Three Lookouts Fire Trail, along the Tallowa Dam Road (south from Kangaroo Valley). It is on the Shoalhaven River, at the junction with the Kangaroo River.
We went out along the Fire Trail to the Tallowa Dam Lookout.
The wildflowers along this track were beautiful to see.

Of course I took some photos of many different flowers, but I lack the necessary reference books to identify them all properly, so I might leave that to another day.

I can identify the Orchids, however.

The first we found (in the car park area) were Tiger Orchids (Diuris sulphurea) which I have photographed previously - so I did not bother today.

Then we came to a patch of Spotted Sun Orchids (Thelymitra ixioides). These were the first I have seen open in the Southern Highlands (this year).
To follow up from previous postings about Beard Orchids, here is the "Red Beard Orchid" - Calochilus paludosus. A lovely specimen with the flower fully open, and the dorsal sepal held upright (not bent over as in C. robertsonii - published previously).
The most unusual Orchid (uncommon, locally) we saw was this one - The Tall Leek Orchid, Prasophyllum elatum. I have a note in one of my plant books that I "may" have seen this plant 7 years ago. But in those days I did not have a camera, and so I have no definite records of the sighting. This is the first time I have photographed this species.
This second plant was growing out from under a shrub, and it has straightened up. You can see the green leaf and the very dark stem on which the flower buds are very tightly held closely against the stem (ovaries "adpressed").

Here is the flower stem closer up.
And one flower image "cropped".

The flowers of Leek Orchids are upside-down compared to most Ground Orchids. If you go back to the Beard Orchid for a moment

you can see what I mean.
The red bearded "labellum" is underneath that flower whereas in this flower it is the dorsal sepal (normally the"hood") which is underneath the flower. The two "lateral sepals" are fused together over the flower. They act to protect the Labellum, which is the white bit surrounding the column (yellow bit).

After we found that one, we walked a bit further and found
yet another Leek Orchid species.

This one was just finishing, whereas the other was just starting.
This is the Yellow Leek Orchid, Prasophyllum flavum. The stem and the leaf of the plant were all yellowish green. Contrast that with the dark stem of the previous species.

Just about everything about these flowers is old and damaged.
But you can discern the distinctive
crimped and wrinkled edge of the labellum.
That is the white part above the centre of the flower.This Orchid is not common in the Southern Highlands or the Shoalhaven district. I photographed one last year, in Penrose, in mid November. So, this plant might be a bit early.