Waterfall Orchids in full flower now.

This late summer season (if that's what it can be called) is looking like a good season, (if somewhat compressed in flowering time).  Other local Orchid enthusiasts confirm this impression. Nothing happening two weeks ago, and suddenly there is a "rush" of flowering.

Waterfall Greenhood (Diplodium pulchellum)

After a very dry season through until the end of January, followed by torrential rain, then another dry spell, followed by yet another torrential dump of rain, the summer Orchids now have to rush to get their flowers opened, pollinated, and their seed capsules ripened, while the warm weather lasts.

Waterfall Greenhood (Diplodium pulchellum)

Today, my friend Kirsten and I inspected the "Waterfall Greenhoods" (Diplodium pulchellum) at one of the local Waterfalls. There is one in particular plant which has a terrific flower, and easy to access.

Kisten photographing the Waterfall Orchid up close

The others closer to the river are also going off.

And lots of non-flowering rosettes are evident, which bodes well for this colony for next year too.

Rosettes (leaves of non-flowering plants)
bodes well for next year, too.

A delightful small, pink moth with black spots

I had never seen anything like this delightful moth before.

Scoliacma bicolora

Daniel found it when the ANOS group was at Ken's place at Bullio, last week (where we saw the "Rufa-type Greenhood").

Scoliacma bicolora

Scoliacma bicolora

Scoliacma bicolora

Scoliacma bicolora

This little day-flying moth was relatively tame, and it walked around on Daniel's hand for a few moments. It then flew off fairly weakly, but it travelled far enough for me to lose track of it. Oh well, I had a few photos.


I then came to trying to identify it, with little success at first.

Naturally I tried to search images for a fairly distinctive moth, but somehow I missed it in the Australian Moths On-line  But of course it is in that wonderful collation of images.

For those not familiar with that on-line reference for Moths,  "most of the information comes from Len Willan’s collection and from the Australian National Insect Collection housed in Canberra at CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences (formerly CSIRO Entomology).
Copyright of all images belongs to Len Willan and CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences."

How did I get to know this?

Well, that's where I have to sing the praises of Dave Rentz and Len Willan.
My Blogging colleague Dave Rentz, a retired CSIRO entomologist (now living in Insect Heaven at Kuranda, Qld. Dave has helped me many times with Cockroaches, Stick Insects, Katydids, and other odd insects I have come across.

I was also helped greatly by Len Willan, who I have met several times at Entomology Workshops which CSIRO Entomology has held over several years. You will already have noticed the credit to Len for compiling the images in that Moths On-line website. In fact I understand that Len more or less built that website.

Len told me that my moth is in a group known as Lichen Moths, which are treated in this paper from the Lichen people at the ANBG and the Australian National Herbarium.

I just love it when scientists work in an interdisciplinary manner. The Insect people do that really well, because the Moth larvae are often very host-specific. So the moth experts have to know their plants.
  
That paper tells me:  "Scoliacma bicolora. This species has been found in north and south Queensland and from there south to Victoria, Tasmania and south-east South Australia. Near Adelaide larvae of this species have been seen eating moss and, less frequently, lichens on rocks in grassy areas."

Len's further information was as follows:

• Your moth is Scoliacma bicolora (Boisduval, 1832)( (Arctiidae: Lithosiinae),
• I have most of the described  Arctids well covered on Australian Moths Online, they best seen as a Slideshow for Arctiidae  
• A resting specimen at Mt Annan Botanical Gardens is shown via this link

What can I say?
All my questions had been promptly answered by both Dave Rentz and Len Willan, and I have only met Len a couple of times. He was even kind enough to tell me he likes my Orchid photos. So that's very nice to know.

He added this point, with which I completely concur:
I presume that these populations and other lichen feeding moth larvae are been completely buggered by successive wildfires and above all repetitive "control burning".
 
One of these days I will write more on "control burning" a subject about which I have recently reported a little, but not enough. I previously reported on an SCA "control burn" which was similarly overly hot and ran out of control.

In my view, if the endangered Ground Parrots and Eastern Bristlebirds at Budderoo Plateau have their habitat burnt at breeding season, (and when they are well-and-truly known to be present), what chance is there that fires will be planned around the need to protect creatures as little known as Lichen Moths and Tussock Moths? 

Its almost enough to make one despair. But Len ended his email with this note: "Slow Stoning wears away the Drips"

A big day out at Tallong

Tallong is home to the Tallong Midge Orchid, (Corunastylis plumosa). This Corunastylis is endemic to the district, and likes to grow on mossy rock shelves. It grows under or close to the Violet Kunzea (Kunzea parvifolia) and Common Fringe-myrtle (Calytrix tetragona) shrubbery which dominates these generally dry and exposed rock mounds.This rare plant is listed as Endangered on the EPBC Act lists.

)

Corunastylis plumosa in situ
growing out of moist moss shelf.

Corunastylis plumosa at Tallong

Corunastylis plumosa at Tallong

Corunastylis plumosa at Tallong
Click to enlarge to see details.

 There were a few other species of Midge Orchids in flower today, at Tallong.

Corunastylis apostasioides (typically barely open)
Click to enlarge.

 We found a giant specimen of this species. 

The flowers had just finished.

Alan Stephenson measured it at 48 cm high

(The measurement is hard to read from above).

I do know it came up to my knee height.

Corunastylis fimbriata at Tallong

Corunastylis fimbriata - the Labellums flap in the breeze

Corunastylis simulans at Tallong
This plant also has a motile labellum
It is a rich purple colour.

We left the main Tallong area and went to the stunning Lookouts (and good Orchid habitats) of the district, overlooking the Upper Reaches of the Shoalhaven River.

Firstly we went to Long Point Lookout. This stunning place gives you great views of "Horseshoe Bend" in the Shoalhaven River.

Long Point Lookout view to the right (up-river)
Shoalhaven River.

Long Point Lookout view, looking straight down the river
Shoalhaven River - from Long Point Lookout.

Diplodium obtusum at Long Point Lookout

Growing on steep slopes of loose rocks
makes Diplodium obtusum hard to photograph.

Close-up of Diplodium obtusum
Note the "rolled edge" on the "sinus"
The labellum is still "set" but is hard to see.
Click to enlarge.

Diplodium obtusum rosettes forming
It is interesting to see so many  new plants forming up.
Presumably getting ready for next season.

A very large brown beetle seen at Long Point Lookout

 Then we drove to the next lookout. Badgery's Lookout is quite famous in geological circles because of the way one can look into the ancient past to see how the land has been formed.

• The sandstone cliff of the marine Snapper Point Formation [a body of rock] is adjacent to the lookout, while further east, a cliff with three distinct levels can be seen, a lower sandstone cliff [Snapper Point Formation], a plateau in the middle [Wandrawandrian Siltstone] and an upper sandstone cliff [Nowra Sandstone]. [Mulwaree Shire Community Heritage Study, 2002 - 2004 - P. 20]

Shoalhaven River seen from Badgery's Lookout

I was surprised to see "Cycads" or "Burrawangs" growing on the steep scree slope opposite and to the left from Badgery's Lookout. They were not across the main valley of the Shoalhaven, but across a gully to the east from the lookout. The reason I was surprised is that I normally associate these plants with deep sandy soils. But after checking PlantNET. there is only one species list anywhere near this area, and that is Macrozamia communis.

Cycads on rocky scree slope - from Badgery's Lookout

View toward Bungonia from Badgery Lookout

Bungonia mine from Badgery's Lookout
This is a terrible scar on the landscape,
but only a few visitors to Badgery's Lookout see this view.

One of the interesting things about these two lookout, quite close, and overlooking the same river, is the different species of plants found at these two locations. Presumably there are minor changes in geology between them, which influence the plants which feel comfortable growing in the two different soil types.

In this case, we find Diplodium reflexum growing at Badgery's Lookout, and not Dipl. obtusum. We found such good displays of these Orchids, that even though both Alan and I knew they grew here, and had seen them in previous years, we both felt that this was the best season for these plants which we had ever encountered.

Long pointed nose of Diplodium reflexum

Close-up of Diplodium reflexum

We found many "groups" of these plants. One loose group had 8 plants in it, but this tight cluster was better for me to photograph. They were in terrific form and condition. There were obvious signs of recent heavy rain in the district, which has presumably helped them bring on flowering in such profusion.

Diplodium reflexum - four fine plants growing together.

An even better cluster of Diplodium reflexum

Never knowing "When to say When", we continued back towards Fitzroy Falls and then we took a divergence to Meryla Pass (the head of Griffins Fire Trail). Alan is familiar with the bottom end of that track, in Kangaroo Valley, but had never been to the top.

I took him down several hundred metres along the Griffins FT, to see an exposed seam of coal there. Of course we found Orchids as well. Chiloglottis reflexa and Alan spotted a number of plants of Cymbidium suave

At this point, although I love the views along that road, I was in need of "Calling it a Day".

But then I came home, had a bite to eat, and sat down and took 5 hours to Blog about it, didn't I?
 

But I can sleep well, now having found a rare and endangered plant (the Tallong Midge Orchid), and the very best display of Diplodium reflexum which either Alan or I had ever seen.

Lord Howe Island Phasmids visit Robertson

UPDATE:
ABC Four Corners had a brief story on these insects on 22 March 2012.
Scroll through to about 21 minutes into the program, to watch the story.
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/912389

Thanks to my brother Brendan for the tip off.
It is good to see them breeding up so successfully, and for the chance to see them live (even on the Tele).

Denis
26 March 2012

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

 
Several Lord Howe Island Phasmids (Dryococelus australis) visited Robertson last evening. They are an ancient form of "Stick Insect". Phasmid is the scientific term for this class of insects.

Don't worry, Folks - this is not an Extension of Range claim.

These guys were in the hands of a licensed and registered "Recovery Team" member.

A pair of Lord Howe Island Phasmids

Stephen Fellenberg spoke to the Robertson Environment Protection Society last night, about the plight of what has been assessed as the rarest insect on earth. 

a Male Lord Howe Island Phasmid in Stephen's left hand.

This species of Stick Insect was considered likely to be extinct from the 1920s, right through to the 1960s. That claim started to be suspected as not accurate, when several freshly dead specimens were reported by two separate groups of climbers, in 1965 and then again in 1968. These climbers had been climbing Balls Pyramid - the highest volcanic "Sea Stack" in the world. A "Sea Stack" is a near vertical rock emerging from the Ocean. Many are old cliff edge remnants, but this one is of volcanic origin. It is some 23 Kms from Lord Howe Island. 

The Lord Howe Island Phasmid used be common on the main island of Lord Howe Island territory, but after Rats were accidentally introduced (after a shipwreck in 1918), these insects appeared to have been eliminated within just a few short years, They had been exterminated by the Rats - on the main Island. 

They were presumed to be extinct, until the climbers reported finding freshly dead specimens, back in the late 1960s, on Balls Pyramid. But access to Balls Pyramid is severely restricted, (both legally and physically). Several researchers went to Balls Pyramid in 2001, and reported having found eggs, and then a small group of these insects were found under some low Lord Howe Island Tea Tree (Melaleuca howeana) shrubs. 

Head of a Lord Howe Island Phasmid - on the Melaleuca howeana

Hopes then started to rise for the recovery of this species. Another expedition was launched in 2003, and live specimens (2 males and 2 females) were brought back to the mainland, in order to establish a recovery program for the species.

head of the smaller insect, the male Lord Howe Island Phasmid

There are several groups of these insects, alive and some breeding success has been occurring, in the research groups. Presumably there are others still "doing their thing" on Balls Pyramid. One hopes so.

It is listed as "Critically Endangered" under the Federal Environment Protection legislation, and listed as "Endangered" under the NSW Threatened Species legislation, (Lord Howe Island is part of the territory of NSW, administratively.)

front view of female Lord Howe Island Phasmid

You may read more about the history of this insect, its near extinction, and its rediscovery, and its recovery program on the website for "Friends of the Phasmid".

You may read more and see images of Lord Howe Island here.

Wikipedia has good coverage of the geology, history, and ecology of the Island and Balls Pyramid.

 

 

Genoplesium baueri - the "Brittle Midge Orchid" - another Endangered Orchid

Today Alan Stephenson rang me to let me know that he had found a few flowering plants of Genoplesium baueri. This plant is closely related to the other Midge Orchids which are better known (now) as Corunastylis. I have posted about several of  these already this season, and hopefully many more will come of the next few weeks.

As this plant is a leafless saprophyte, (no leaves and uses energy from decaying material to grow, instead of using chlorophyll to convert energy from the sun) one can only find it when it is in flower. And then only with difficulty, as the flowers are small, and reddish yellow, so they hardly stand out against dead leaves on the ground.

Genoplesium baueri. as found - over dead leaves

Plus, it is rare, and even if one knows roughly where they are known to occur, one still has to search amongst the grasses, and dead leaves to find a skimpy little plant about 150 mm high.

Best of luck.

Genoplesium baueri. A closer look at the plant "in situ"

Naturally when given the chance to be shown these plants, one jumps at the offer. 

Genoplesium baueri

Jervis Bay - here I come: 

*traffic of holiday period notwithstanding. 

90 minutes later I was there.

Genoplesium baueri a close-up view (camera case as background)

Alan looking for more Genoplesium baueri

We also found three species of Tongue Orchids in this area (in the Heritage Estate).
No wonder Peter Garret moved to protect this area, under the EPBC Act.

Firstly, this is the endangered Cryptostylis hunteriana

We found a few plants on two sites, close by to the site 

where the Genoplesium baueri plants were growing.

Cryptostylis hunteriana - the other "leafless saprophyte" Orchid in this area

Cryptostylis subulata - the Large Tongue Orchid

This is the kind of image I was seeking to get 

when I wrote about this plant in December.

It clearly shows the glands underneath the flower

- the things which attract the pollinating wasps.

Underneath view of  Cryptostylis subulata

Cryptostylis erecta - the Bonnet Orchid

Other flowering plants found there include the photogenic
Christmas Bells

Blandfordia nobilis  - Christmas Bells

Thysanotus tuberosus Common Fringe Lily

This next plant is an odd little plant. 

It is a Pratia*** (Not quite), but it does not "fit" the general form of

Pratia purpurescens

The leaf shape is wrong. 

Flower colour is much bluer than the normal form.

but as Kirsten keeps telling me,

flower colour is the least significant factor in plant IDs.

a nice little Pratia - possibly Pratia purpurescens

Thanks once again to Alan for the opportunity to see these plants again.
One ought never pass up on this chance.

*** Kirsten has advised me that it is NOT a Pratia, but a Lobelia.

Oh well, I was close.

Both are in the Lobeliaceae

It is Lobelia anceps  (Formerly known as Lobelia alata)

Here is an image of  "Lobelia alata" from the ever-useful Bega Valley "List of Native Plants and Weeds". If you are not familiar with that website, I recommend it for people in coastal NSW, south from Sydney. I suggest you save it as a "favourite" or "bookmark it".