These images were taken on Black Mountain last weekend. I am grateful to
Martin Butterfield and
Tony Wood for arranging to meet me at Black Mountain, (ACT) and to show me where these particular plants are found. These are all plants I have not photographed properly before (I have seen the Little Duck Orchid in pouring rain at Lithgow, but the photos were barely recognisable.) The Black Tongued Stegostyla and the Large Bird Orchid are totally new species for me.
You might like to compare this species with the closely related
Flying Duck Orchid, Caleana major.
 |
Little Duck Orchid
Paracaleana minor
Front view of the Orchid and column and pollinia. |
This species of the "rufa group" (or Rustyhoods) (originally in the Pterostylis group) is flowering considerably later than other
"Rustyhoods".
This is the first time I have seen this species of Large Bird Orchid (
Simpliglottis valida). You can contrast this species with the local
"Illawarra Bird Orchid" Simpliglottis chlorantha - which is primarily an all-green flower. Similar in structure, with subtle differences in the gland structure.
This large pink "non-Caladenia" as Martin refers to them, is a striking plant. It was growing amongst tussocks of native grasses high on the eastern side of Black Mountain - overlooking Canberra's Civic Centre. I was anticipating it to be a small "Ladies Fingers Orchid", but the flowers were far larger and far taller than I was expecting.
 |
Stegostyla congesta
Black-tongue Orchid |
The labellum of this Orchid is very distinctive, with its "calli" (glands) packed densely all over the lebellum. The entire plant is covered with fine bristles.
 |
Stegostyla congesta
Black-tongue Orchid |
No comments:
Post a Comment