ANOS spring tour of Shoalhaven

Yesterday was our annual Spring tour of the Shoalhaven region for the Australasian Native Orchid Society.

It was an Australasian tour as well, with Ian Chalmers (from Sydney), Editor of the Orchadian, and the National Registrar of Judges - John Creeggan (from New Zealand) and his wife, joining us on the tour.

So many plants, so little time...

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Today I will simply name the main species we found.

Pterostylis baptistii in profile

Pterostylis baptistii from front, showing the pollinia behind the labellum

 

Pterostylis baptistii - my favourite image

That photo was taken with a flash held below the camera,

giving great light into the low end of the flower.

*****

from the sublime to the ridiculously minute .

Oxysepalum shepherdii (formerly Bulbophyllum)

Oxysepalum shepherdii

Petalochilus carnea (formerly Caladenia)

Dockrillia pugioniformis The Dagger Orchid

Some not quite open Dockrillia striolata flowers

A pure white form of  Petalochilus carneus

And again, from the side.

Prasophyllum elatum

A look-alike for Pterostylis pedunculata, Pt erecta

Pterostylis erecta from the rear. Note spider legs poking out from flower

Pterostylis erecta from side

Sarcochilus falcatus

Petalochilus hillmanii

Twin flowers of Petalochilus hillmanii

Oligochaetochilus rufus bud - just about to open.

So, as you can imagine, we returned home exhausted, but happy.

Green forms of Myrmechila formicifera on Macquarie Pass

Today I was showing Colin and Mischa (of Retired Aussies.com) some of our local Orchids.

We were having fun, watching out for not squashing some tiny Myrmechila formicifera (AKA Chiloglottis formicifera) plants, which so small, and dark-coloured that they are virtually impossible to see when one is standing up. 

Myrmechila formicifera - normal coloured plant.

Colin was busy repelling the persistent Leeches. 

Colin's pet Leech

Then suddenly he said "Oh look, there's a Green one" (referring to an Orchid).

Sure enough, there were in fact at least 5 green plants.

Here are some images of these beautiful little oddities.

Here is one "front on".

Such a lovely surprise.

A green form of Myrmechila formicifera

In "form" (shape and positioning of the glands) these plants are clearly properly formed as Myrmechila formicifera. They are simply an "alba form" (i.e., lacking normal pigmentation).

Click to enlarge the image, to see the detailed view of the glands.

They have the same "bubbles" of glands on the lower end of the labellum.

That's what defines it as M. formicifera.

I will write more in a few days 

about some others of these plants, 

which seem to be of the related Myrmechila trapeziformis.

There will be more discussion of those plants, 

when we have all had a chance to review Colin and Mischa's photos as well. 

Here is one of mine - 

to show the difference in the labellum glands.

Clean end of the Labellum. 

The "insectiform glands" are concentrated at the head of the labellum 

(close to the main part of the flower). 

Contrast that image with the first image.

Myrmechila trapeziformis at Macquarie Pass

From the PlantNET botanical illustration,  

for Chiloglottis trapeziformis

(AKA Myrmechila trapeziformis)

there seems to be little doubt that we have found

Myrmechila trapeziformis

Botanical illustration from PlantNET for "Chiloglottis trapeziformis"

While drafting this I got an email back from Alan Stephenson

confirming his advice that it is indeed Myrmechila trapeziformis.

 Ah, is it any wonder we love getting out and around in the bush?

As Colin mentioned today, it is remarkable how much more 

a few people can find when working together, 

than a single person will ever find.

Is this the most fun one can have standing up?

Hang on, I spend most of my time down on the ground,

or on my knees,

(taking photos) !!!

An early flowering for Pterostylis x ingens

Down on Tourist Road this afternoon I was surprised to find Pterostylis x ingens in flower. It is regarded by the experts as a naturally occurring hybrid Greenhood Orchid.

Pterostylis x ingens - a natural hybrid Greenhood

This variety of Greenhood is known to occur there. But it has only been seen by me in early November 2007 and late November 2009. 

Side view of Pterostylis  x ingens

Are they flowering very early this year? 

Who knows?

Once again, I can only say that you only find these things in flower IF AND WHEN YOU LOOK FOR THEM. 

Obviously, that only holds true IF they are actually flowering at the time. 

A front-on view of Pterostylis x ingens

 But the point is that a negative record means little or nothing. 

To say I have not seen them flowering this early before could simply mean that I have not looked this early in previous years.

Pterostylis x ingens - a young flower

Incidentally, this hybrid is said to be a cross between Pterostylis nutans (the Nodding Greenhood) and Pterostylis falcata.  
Pt. falcata has been found in 2009 growing close to where these plants are now flowering. Nutans has not been found in this vicinity previously, but it is generally so common that nobody ever queried that as a possible "parent". Well I can say now that today I found two small plants of Pt. nutans growing out in the short grass in a fully open are, along the edge of Tourist Road. A surprising location, but not really a surprise, if you get my point.

Whipbirds feeling the Love

It was a Springtime afternoon as far as a pair of Eastern Whipbirds were concerned.

They chased each other round and round under a couple of low shrubs outside my front verandah.

They even ran along a Park Bench made out of an old Railway Sleeper.

Then remarkably this guy actually appeared in the open, long enough for me to take a couple of snaps.

They're not great shots, but given how rare this encounter was, I will accept the opportunity gratefully.

Whipbird was calling actively, and chasing another Whipbird

Whipbirds are notoriously secretive, and have an ability to judge how to sit on the far side of any bush.

Front-on view of the white cheek patches of the Whipbird

I hear these birds every day, and recently they have been calling loudly and frequently, but this afternoon's performance was notable.

I only heard the male calling. There was no female answering call. (Listen to both calls: click on the sound file sign at top of the COG Gallery page here) 

So, was this a mating ritual or a display of territorail behaviour to chase off another male bird? I really do not know. There were two birds present, but only one calling, and only one was prepared to allow itself to be photographed.

Pelican Workshop - with Australian Seabird Rescue

The good people of the South Coast Branch of Australian Seabird Rescue organised a workshop on Saturday.

I went along at the suggestion of my friend, Kirsten, who knows I grew up handling small birds (under my father's Bird Banding permit). I have not had any dealings with big sea birds, like Pelicans. Time I learnt something about them, including the fact that Pelicans smell nice and clean (which I thought unlikely, but which I now agree with). 

To me they seem to smell like "Ocean Breeze" air freshener (salty with a hint of dried sea weed).

Julie ran the Workshop - in fact she did a huge presentation - all day long, really, apart from a couple of breaks and a bit in the middle when the Pelicans took over, with a little help from some Sea Gulls.

Pelicans and Silver Gulls awaiting their invitation to take part.

The first Pelican to try her part.

Julie with a female Pelican

This is how they are held safely. Beak and Pouch displayed

Rhonda gives a hand

Pelican - with a healthy eye.

And there she goes, safely returning to the gang.

And the Silver Gulls start the clean-up process.

Underwing of a Fairy (Little) Penguin specimen.

Head and beak of an Australasian Gannet.

Beak of a Fairy Prion -a relative of the Petrels and Muttonbirds

Fairy Prion showing how elegant and dainty this Seabird is.

It was an interesting and instructive day. Thanks to all the other ASR Volunteers as well, who helped make it an interesting day.

More "Finger Orchids" (Caladenias)

These plants were so popular when known as Caladenias. The name Petalochilus lacks the benefits of familiarity and simplicity.

But they are the same gorgeous things which they ever were.

Here are some members of this genus, all found at Nowra and Jervis Bay last weekend.

Petalochilus alatus -  a sweet little flower.

The two side petals are typically held out in a cross-shaped pattern.

Petalochilus alatus - front view.

Pale pink with bright sides of the labellum, and a yellow tip.

Petalochilus alatus - from the side.

From the rear, one sees pale pink stripes. 

It is not as dark and hairy as Pet fuscatus.

Petalochilus alatus - rear view

Here is Petalochilus fuscatus. 

Even I would have to acknowledge that this is a 

particularly dark and handsome specimen 

of what is normally regarded as  a fairly drab species. 

This plant earns is name of "fuscatus" meaning "dusky".

A particularly colourful specimen of Petalochilus fuscatus

Petalochilus fuscatus

 A front and rear view together of this species.

2 plants of Petalochilus fuscatus

 Here is Petalochilus carneus 

Note the strong crimson banding on the Labellum

In Kangaloon and a Fitzroy Falls (on top of the Illawarra Plateau)

this is our most common "Caladenia".

These plants were seen at Nowra and Jervis Bay last weekend.

This is typically what one sees when walking through the bush.

By that I mean, this is how one sees it, when walking past the plant.

Petalochilus carneus - as seem when standing up over the flower

To get a better view one needs to "get down and dirty".

Petalochilus carneus - as seen in a close-up image

 Here is the closely related 

(and more spectacular) 

Petalochilus hillmanii

Petalochilus hillmanii

Here it is seen close-up.

Petalochilus hillmanii - close-up of labellum

I would have to confess that I have chosen relatively strongly marked individuals of these very variable species (from the hundreds of photos I took).

In truth, it is often confusing for me, to work out whether I have a pale form of  a "carneus" or a "fuscatus". 

And even the "hillmanii" and "carneus" can be a bit confusing when one finds less strongly marked plants. One thing helps, Petalochilus hillmanii is ***not found up on the Escarpment, and I have not seen Petalochilus alatus up here, either - not yet, anyway.

*** see my report (23 September 2011) of this species on Cambewarra Mountain at 600 metres above sea level - a new height record for this species.

Blue and Purple Orchid flowers

These Orchids were all flowering together, under a very wide powerline easement, south-west from Nowra, last weekend. It was a wonderful display.

For me, the thrill was to get nice specimens of Cyanicula caerulea I have only seen one specimen of this plant before.  

Cyanicula caerulea

The name is meant to refer to the flower being "sky blue", which is a bit off the mark, to my eyes. But it is still a lovely flower. It was originally classed as a "Caladenia" which is entirely understandable.

Labellum and column of Cyanicula caerulea.

This lovely flower is a slightly mutant form of Glossodia major also known as the Waxlip Orchid. This species is very variable in colour, with many specimens being spotted, as this one is. Alan Stephenson has photographed pure white specimens, but I have never seen such a form. The prominent V-shaped labellum is diagnostic.

A spotted form of Glossodia minor

Normally Glossodia minor is a very small flower, on a stem about100mm tall. The preceding species is twice as high. However, this plant was about 150 mm high and nearly as wide in flower as the larger species. Was it a hybrid between the two?

Glossodia minor - a large specimen, possibly a hybrid.

This plant always has two strange little glands jutting out in front of the column. Click to enlarge the image above, to see that detail.