In this case, Speculantha ventricosa was named by David Jones, from this site, in the Nebraska Estate, near St George's Basin, south from Nowra. I wrote about this species and its naming, last year. This plant is now listed on the NSW Threatened Species Act as Critically Endangered.
Alan and I went down to the Nebraska Estate specifically to find these plants. In fact we were almost too early in the season, but we did find a few plants in flower.
The habitat was mixed Turpentine and Eucalypt forest on deep grey sandy soil. The plants were growing along a roadside verge, but the surrounding forest had dense undergrowth. There are some semi-cleared blocks in the area too.
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| Speculantha ventricosa - a classic specimen |
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| Speculantha ventricosa rosette and flower stem |
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| Speculantha ventricosa flower seen from above, rear. The lateral petals are clearly flared. |
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| Speculantha ventricosa note the "points" of the lateral sepals curling over the hood. Also note the abrupt "sinus" (the opening at front of the flower). |
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| Speculantha ventricosa |
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| Speculantha ventricosa young flowers yet to open (at top). |
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| Speculantha ventricosanote the shape of the rear of the flower |
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| Speculantha ventricosaas the flowers age they grow more reddish. |
