An Orchid Weekend - Saturday - part one

The Illawarra Branch of the Australasian Native Orchid Society had scheduled a trip to the Southern Highlands on Saturday, which troubled me, somewhat, as some of the local Orchids had been underwater, literally, for two weeks, and had no flowers left to see. Many other "autumn Orchids" had come and gone in February. What to show them?

We stuck with the plan and went to Budderoo to see the Mecopodum striatum plants out there. I had been able to show those plants to the Canberra Native Plant Society people the week before. This time, however, after three warm days in the middle of the week, most of those Orchids had finished too. We did see a few, however.

Mecopodum striatum

Then we set off for The Gib, where I was confident we would find some of the Scarlet Greenhoods (Diplodium coccinum) which grow there in dense ferns and long grass (under Eucalypt forest cover). It is always relatively hard work finding these plants, despite their relatively bright colour, because their flower heads are often buried amongst the grasses and ferns (or barely protruding),

Diplodium coccinum
growing amongst Maidenhair Ferns

Diplodium coccinum
A beautifully formed flower
These flowers grow progressively more reddish as they age.

From the front you can see the fine "tip" and
the points or "ears"
held out at a shallow angle on this
Diplodium coccinum

Acianthus exsertus
also growing on The Gib, with the
Diplodium coccinum plants

We then adjourned to Mittagong, for a pleasant lunch beside Lake Alexandra before going for a stroll around the tracks, at the base of Mt Alexandra where we found many more Orchids and other interesting things. More tomorrow.

"Little Dumpies" - Diplodium truncatum - Greenhoods burst into flower

Kirsten sent me a message today, that she had found a colony of "Little Dumpies" - Diplodium truncatum.



It was a quiet day in Robbo, so once the clock passed 3:00PM when the RMS (formerly the RTA) people opened up Macquarie Pass, I drove down the Pass, to check them out.

I have seen Little Dumpies previously, a few on Mt Gibraltar, several years ago, and a good group at Bungonia Gorge, last year. But they are not "common" around here, well, not in my experience.

This is the best, (densest) colony of these Greenhoods

which I have ever seen.

A dense colony of "Little Dumpies" Diplodium truncatum

These plants have a very abrupt point to the "galea" (the hood) which is shown well in this illustration from PlantNET.

Botanical illustration from PlantNET
"Little Dumpies" Diplodium truncatum

These plants were growing amongst dense plants of Kangaroo Grass, at Croom Reserve, Albion Park, NSW. The grass was very dense, and these plants seemed as if they ought have been quite overgrown, but clearly they were not troubled by the grass.

"Little Dumpies" Diplodium truncatum

These Diplodium plants form rosettes on non-flowering plants.

The flowering plants have their flowers emerge directly from the ground

without any rosette leaves.

Many non-flowering rosettes of "Little Dumpies" Diplodium truncatum

"Little Dumpies" Diplodium truncatum

Because these Greenhoods were growing amongst dense Kangaroo Grass, they were difficult to count, but I estimate that there were about 150 flowers growing in a patch 1.5 metres long by 1 metre wide. There were 3, main clusters of these Greenhoods, growing in clearings between the clumps of the Kangaroo Grass.

An interesting note is that these plants are flowering much earlier than I have previously seen them flower (admittedly in the Southern Highlands), on 3 May 2011 (at Bungonia) and 8 May 2009 (on Mt Gibraltar).

There is some colour variation between these flowers and those at Bungonia, which are much more reddish.

Bunochilus tunstallii on Mt Alexandra, Mittagong.

This afternoon, Kirsten and I made a surprise discovery on Mount Alexandra (a sandstone hill above Mittagong - on the opposite side of Mittagong from Mt Gilbraltar). There was a small community of 5 or 6 plants of Bunochilus tunstallii, in lovely fresh condition. 

This species is closely related to the Tall Greenhood (Bunochilus longifolius) I showed yesterday. and which is pictured below as well.

Bunochilus tunstallii - from Mt Alexandra.

These plants are on Mt Alexandra Reserve, overlooking Mittagong.

A good flowering stem of Bunochilus tunstallii

As far as I am aware, Bunochilus tunstallii is not recorded this far west (it is normally coastal and near coastal). Perhaps it is known from the Blue Mountains? 

PlantNET says:
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in moist areas of sclerophyll forest in coastal and near-coastal districts; south from Robertson.

NSW subdivisions: CC, SC, CT

http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Pterostylis~tunstallii

The map there looks like it might have Blue Mountains records, but there is no mention of that in text.

Geologically where these plants were growing is directly above the Nattai Gorge, and is classic "Lower Blue Mountains" sandstone habitat. The other distinctive plants in this habitat were Waratahs, and Woody Pear. Xylomelum pyriforme  etc. 

Mt Alexandra has very different geology and habitat from "The Gib" (Mt. Gibraltar) - just across the valley.

For comparison, here is a photo of the Tall Greenhood  (Bunochilus longifolius). 

Bunochilus longifolius

There are fine detail differences in the labellum structure, colour and the stiff bristles on the labellum of this species (the "type species" of all these various "Tall Greenhoods") which helps distinguish it from all the other closely related "Bunochilus" species. Click on both "close-up" images to see them closely.

Eriochilus cucullatus - by way of comparison

This is the amusing little Orchid known as Parson's Bands or "Bunnies Ears". Officially known as Eriochilus cucullatus. It is one of the most common of the late summer Orchids in this region (in truth it might be found from February onwards, into April).

Eriochilus cucullatus

It is relatively common in the Southern Highlands, with a distinct preference for shallow sandy soil, or moss beds over rock shelves. It likes to grow in fully exposed places. Around Robertson it grows in the drier parts of Tourist Road. It also is very common on the moss beds covering the rock faces on the top of Mt Gibraltar ("The Gib").

Eriochilus cucullatus flower stem

By contrast with yesterday's plant Eriochilus petricola, this plant leaf is not well developed at flowering time, and it is green on top and underneath (not red underneath).

Add caption

I have written about this species, and its quaint clerical name, previously. In fact when I did, I commented that one day I hoped to see the related species Eriochilus petricola. That wish was fulfilled in yesterday's Blog posting. It has taken me two years to find that species.

Hyacinth Orchid (Dipodium roseum)

To put you out of your misery, Dearest Reader, here is an unambiguously pale pink Hyacinth Orchid - Dipodium roseum (with very few tiny dots of dark colour - and no large spots at all).

OK the "misery" has been mostly mine - trying to sort out these confusing plants. But I acknowledge the assistance of Alan Stephenson in sorting out these plants. I take comfort from the fact that this species was only named as a separate species in 1991 (Jones and Clements). Prior to that, everybody must have been confused by these "look alike" Hyacinth Orchids.

These images were taken on 2 January 2010, the same day as the other similar species, shown yesterday.

First thing to note is the habitat - on the side of a sandstone hill, overlooking Mittagong, NSW. These plants were growing in a small area of the hill which was "burnt off" last year. Many Orchids respond well to fire. There were many plants in flower in a small area of just a few hectares which had been burnt. I did not see any in flower in other areas of the same hillside which had not been burnt.

Second point - steep hillside on sandstone, therefore - perfect drainage.

Third point - Eucalypt forest, with typical "Sydney Sandstone" flora - Eucalypts, Proteaceae (many genera) and Acacias, as well as many "Pea flowers" ("Eggs and Bacon" plants).

A view of a rainbow over Mittagong
looking between Mt Alexandra and Mt Gibraltar (across the valley floor)
Taken ahead of a rain squall on 10 July 2007.
Note the Eucalypt forest canopy and steep valley below.

Here is a flower stem

Another stem of flowers showing two flower ovaries already pollinated.This is the full frontal view of the flower.
To my eyes, this is the most natural colour rendition of the flower.
It is definitely a clear mid pink.
Note the almost total absence of "spots".
Contrast this with yesterday's image of D. punctatum.

To show you the difficulty I have in presenting consistent colour-density in images of these flowers here is the same flower, photographed in slightly different light (in sun, not full shade), and probably closer to the flash - hence more over-exposed..

There, you don't often get more honesty in a photographer than that!
This shot does reveal the "mohawk" arrangement
of the fibres on the labellum.
Dark pink upright hairs in the centre,
and light pink flat hairs on either side of the callus ridge.
Click to enlarge, to see those details.

Explanation of light problems:
Because my Macro Lens is old and half broken
and the built-in flash unit has given up the ghost completely,
I use a cheap "add-on" flash with no controls.
Hence my problem of not being able to control the light consistently.
For a reference point, contrast the skin colour of my fingers.
Same fingers, obviously.
I did try to adjust it in Photoshop, but without success.
I decided to publish the honest photograph instead
for the sake of the flower details that the image did show you accurately.


Now to the diagnostic points of identification.
Note the recurved tips of the petals and sepals, especially the lower ones.
Here is a high-angle view of the labellum of the flower.
This is a rear view of the flower.
Note the recurved tips of the petals and sepals.
There is some very minor flecking visible.
It is insignificant compared to the flecking on D. punctatum.
Here is an underneath view , to show the shape of the labellum.
At the risk of provoking comment on my poor colour/light control,
here is a nice shot of the fine parallel lines on the keel of the labellum.
It is a pretty image and it shows very clearly what I wish to illustrate,
which is the parallel indented lines on the labellum,
reminiscent of rich corduroy fabric.
Click on the image to enlarge it, and see what I mean.
You just need to make an allowance for the artificial light.
The flower is paler than it appears here.
By contrast, here is a link to the same pose of yesterday's specimen
of Dipodium punctatum.

Recently I found the first flowers (for this season) of the tiny Helmet Orchid (Corybas aconitiflorus) flowering near Robertson. This was in a patch of tall wet Eucalypt forest beyond Belmore Falls. Not an area I had seen any Orchids in before. This plant was flowering just above the leaf litter, which is pretty normal for this genus. Strangely, it was a solitary flower, whereas this genus typically grows in large groups of plants.I promised you a better set of photos of the Chiloglottis trilabra on Mt Gibraltar. Here they are.
You can clearly see the "gland" or "pseudo-insect" on the labellum. This is part of the flower, mimicking in scent a wasp sitting on the flower. It attracts male wasps, which pollinate the flower, inadvertently, while trying to mate with the pseudo-insect.

Here is the flower seen from the side, showing the labellum clearly.
Click to enlarge.

For "Mick", here is the "habitat" in which this flower grows - amongst dry grasses, under a dead wattle tree, on the side of a very rocky hill. It was very hot on The Gib in February and most of the moss beds on the exposed rock surfaces dried out very badly. Many small trees which had grown in the moss beds, died out (including this one). So, a few flat weeds survive, as well as the orchids which were dormant over summer and have re-appeared after the worst of the summer heat had passed. Click to enlarge image, to see leaves and flower of the Orchid (outlined in yellow) and other Orchid leaves to the right.
It takes some practice to find these dark flowers hiding away like this. The paired leaves of the Chiloglottis are fairly easily spotted once you know what to look for. I had, in fact, seen leaves here over a year before, and did not know exactly what they were, but I knew they would turn out to be Orchids - so it was a matter of checking this location on each visit to the Gib, until I found them in flower.

"Little Dumpies" found (at last) on Mt Gibraltar

I have been told for several years that the oddly-named "Little Dumpies" Orchids grow on The Gib. The name is not very flattering, but the flower itself is quite handsome, in a Greenhoodish kind of way. It is a relatively large flower, a little heavy in the front end of the "hood", but on a short stem. That is the reason for both the common name, and its scientific name Diplodium (or Pterostylis) truncata.

Here is the Botanical illustration from PlantNET, (from the linked site above).

Here is one growing amongst native grasses, in a fairly open position.

I have searched "The Gib" for these plants for two years, but my friends Colin and Mischa, came up from Victoria this week, and they had seen them here previously, and knew what to look for, and more importantly where and when to look for them. As with all Greenhoods, these plants go dormant, and become impossible to find. They are hard enough to find, even when in flower, because they tend to grow amongst grasses and other small plants in little rock crevices.

Note the heavy front end of the "hood" and the very fine "points" or "ears".

Colin's camera lens adds a sense of scale.

Fron the front end, you can see the blunt hood.
This specimen had nice "points" either side of the hood.

After Colin and Mischa's success in finding this Greenhood, I showed them some other leaves of other Orchids which I had been monitoring for some time, but without ever finding flowers on them. We scoured the patch of dense grass where the leaves were, and Colin found a flower. It turns out to be a large "Wasp Orchid" - Chiloglottis trilabra.

Botanical illustration courtesy of PlantNET (from the linked site above).Note the "glands" on the labellum going almost to the fine end of the Labellum
Also note the Labellum has a central "tip" which is clearly illustrated above.
Sorry the photo is so dark. I shall take a better image soon and replace these.
(Click to enlarge the images)
From the side, you can see the Lateral Sepals hang more or less straight down.
They are neither "reflexed" (as is Ch. reflexa)
nor bent forward underneath the flower, as is Ch. diphylla

I say large, compared to most of the other species of "Wasp Orchids" I have seen in the Southern Highlands, but of course, it is small compared to the Simpliglottis chlorantha, one of a related group of plants, which have now been split off from the Chiloglottis, (for very good reasons, I believe). Those larger flowered plants are better known as "bird orchids".

Parsons Bands Orchids

This is a common little Orchid, which I quite like, but which I have always found hard to photograph. There is usually a depth of field problem with small flowers which have a large protruding section. Either the front is in focus and the rear of the flower is not, or vice versa.

So this Autumn, I vowed to try to overcome that problem. Click to enlarge the images.The first issue with these plants is the colour variation.
I cannot say if they change from pink to white, as the flowers mature, as I would need to go back and find a particular flower after a few days. Without a marking system, it is hard to know exactly which plant I had photographed 3 days before, or a week before. I confess I am not that organised.
So let me just say there are both pink plants and white plants (true statement). Whether flowers which start out as pink, fade to white I cannot say.

This plant flowers either without any leaf visible at flowering time, or with just a small leaf which develops more fully after the flower has finished. It is described as having a "ground hugging" leaf. This species has a green reverse side of the leaf. You can see that I am holding one leaf folded back, to show the green reverse side. In fact these plants have faint purple edge of the leaf, on both top and bottom. Click to enlarge image.This is my favourite image of this species. It is of a white form, from Tallong. It looks to me like it is holding up its little arms, saying: "Don't shoot".

You can clearly see the yellow pollen grains in the "column" just partially covered. There is an apparent "clowns mouth" (look for the "white lips") which is an opening leading to the nectar producing glands. You can clearly see the bead of moisture (nectar) in the column, in each of these 3 images.
The white lateral sepals are said to resemble the "collars" worn by once Clerics. Hence the name. This image of Charles Wesley's Clerical Collar might help people understand. Does it now look familiar? The two white protruding tabs are what prompted the name.This is Eriochilus cucullatus. There is another related species which I have not yet seen, but I hope to track them down. It is Eriochilus petricola (or E. autumnalis as it was once known). It has a leaf which is more fully developed at flowering time. That species apparently has a purple coloured reverse of the leaf.

Orchid Hunting in the Southern Highlands

Today I was pleased to be a guide in Orchid Hunting in the Southern Highlands, for Colin and Mischa (of the famous "Retired Aussies.com" website - which I regularly refer to for their fabulous Orchid photos), and Alan Stephenson, the Conservation Officer for the Australasian Native Orchid Society. Colin and Mischa normally reside in Victoria, but were passing through the Highlands today. Alan, with whom I have done a little Orchid hunting previously, was keen to see the green form of Chiloglottis sylvestris I wrote about a few days ago.

As Colin and Mischa are southerners, Alan and I showed them a few flowering specimens of Diplodium pulchellum, the Illawarra Greenhood. This is one of the few genuinely "endemic" local Orchids, so I knew it would be a good one to start with, as they could never see this plant in Victoria. I was able to show them some in a typical habitat, near a waterfall, and also several specimens (long past their prime, but still identifiable) growing in a muddy creekbed, in really dense dark shade, under Melaleuca scrub. Alan was interested to see this species in this non-typical habitat.
Next we went into another patch of dense Melaleuca scrub, also in a creekbed, to see the green form of the Chiloglottis sylvestris, which I wrote about two days ago. Because I knew these plants were unusual, and knowing Colin and Mischa would be coming up today, I had marked the general location of these plants. I found my tag, but could not see the plants. I was very despondent. Had a passing Swamp Wallaby paused for lunch, and eaten these plant? Surely I (or they) could not be that unlucky? Anyway, after searching high and low, with no success, we pushed on, and 20 metres further along the creekbed, Misca suddenly called out: "There's some leaves here, and green flowers". Sure enough Mischa had rediscovered my plant from two days ago. And, yes I had placed a second marker there, but it was so well disguised, we found the plants before I noticed the marker! I don't like leaving markers*** anyway! But, I felt pleased we had found these unusual plants - and at least my honour was restored!

Mischa lining up a photo of the
Green variety of Chiloglottis

Mischa, not content with having found my plants, went on to find a number of other specimens of these green form of the Chiloglottis sylvestris. These latter plants were deeply hidden under Coral Fern and other ferns, still within the thicket.

Having had a successful hour or so, we returned to Robertson for lunch at Three Creeks Cafe, where Bernie joined us. Then we went to Tourist Road. I saw a Swamp Wallaby beside the road near Mount Murray, and a very fine Copperhead Snake quickly turned and cleared off the road, also in the wet forest, on the eastern end of Tourist Road. Colin and Mischa, in the car behind saw the snake, as I swerved to dodge it (there was no other traffic).

We then stopped briefly at Butler's Swamp, and Colin was very impressed with our tall and strongly coloured "Ladies Tresses Orchids" (Spiranthes australis). We also found a few Horned Orchids, (Orthoceras strictum) (which I had not previously seen in this location.)
There were also a few flowers of Small Tongue Orchids amongst the bark litter, under some Scribbly Gums.

Kirkland Road revealed some nice specimens of Chiloglottis seminuda, and also C. reflexa. I have written about these plants previously.

Colin is using a 10 power hand lens
to inspect a Ch. seminuda flower
Mischa is waiting to photgraph the flower.

We adjourned towards the western end of Tourist Road, and within moments of getting out of our cars we saw two different species of Corunastylis, the "Tiny Greenhoods" (Speculantha sp. aff. parviflora) I have written about these plants recently. There were several Greenhoods, growing in dry grass, beside the road. As yet I have not worked out what species these are.

There were many, many Parsons' Bands Orchids (Eriochilus cucullatus) growing here, as well.

We examined closely some specimens of Corunastylis apostasioides (I believe it is this species).

Click on the photo to enlarge it.

It is certainly very different from the other Corunastylis I have shown you recently. Indeed the flowers of this species are so tiny, it looks like a little bit of "fluff" on the end of the somewhat swollen ovaries which these relatively tall Corunastylis Orchids have. The other species of Corunastylis growing here has a regular sized flower for this genus, with lateral sepals spreading about 15 mm wide. The C. apostasioides flowers (if that's what they are) do not spread their lateral sepals at all - instead they lie tightly beside the dorsal sepal.

As weird Orchids go, this one is pretty "out there".
The "Labellum" is fully reflexed, and very hairy.
The Dorsal Sepal is in the centre of the flower, and also very hairy.
It is much smaller than the labellum.
The two lateral sepals lie close beside the dorsal sepal.
They do not spread wide, as in the neighbouring Corunastylis species.

Finally, we adjourned to The Gib, to examine some very nice specimens of Diplodium coccinum, and also some nice tall specimens of Acianthus exsertus

*** The temporary markers have now been removed!