Dusky Caladenia?

A nice walk today after 29mm rain. Plenty of dragonflies and I saw my first skinks for the season.

Now for the hard bit! I think this white example plus the pink one is the Dusky Caladenia (Petalochilus fuscata) and NOT the 'uncommon' Common Caladenia (Caladenia vulgaris) Both species were a bit too alike to my untrained eye!

I spent some time flicking from one species to the other on several internet sites, but I suspect this orchid is Petalochilus fuscata. The stem length would have been about 10 to 12cm, so I would imagine that little detail would clear the matter up in favour of the Dusky Caladenia!

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Glossoda major again.

Another Pterostylis species. Probably Linguella nana - the Dwarf Greenhood.

Definitely the Twining Fringe-lily, Thysanotus patersonii

Chamaescilla corymbosa - Blue Stars. These delicate flowers are only out for a day.

Wax-lip and Fringe-lily

Yesterday, I revisited the spot where I found the orchid I posted in bud a few days ago, hoping to find it again. No luck, unfortunately. I did find a few groups of Wax-lips and a single specimen of the Fringe-lily in the general area, so it certainly wasn't a fruitless trip!

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Glossodia major - Wax-lip Orchid.

There was a breeze yesterday so this shot is 'carded'. Placing my clipboard between the subject and the wind is the only way I've come up with to keep the plant relatively still for an acceptable focus, unfortunately.


(Liliaceae) Thysanotus species, I think it's probably Thysanotus patersonii, the Twining Fringe-lily.

I am planning another orchid excursion today in a location several hundred metres from yesterday's site. I'll be looking for more Gnat orchids!

Too Windy.........

......to do anything today, including working in the garden!

Here are a few more orchid shots, a couple a bit better than those I've previously posted.
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The Nodding Greenhood again (Pterostylis nutans)


Sharp Greenhood (Pterostylis X ingens)


I'll need guidance on this one, but I think they might be the Trim Orchid. But then again...) Note the position of the 'antlers' on the top one. Something didn't turn out quite the way it was supposed to, I'd suspect!


I'm pretty sure this is the Yam Daisy (Asteraceae - Microseris lanceolata) I only found one specimen and the flower was lying on the ground still attached to the stem. Probably something else we can blame on the winds of Spring!

More Orchids and Stuff

Today, I explored another area specifically for orchids. As a beginner, I want to familiarise myself with the environment where different orchid species are growing. In this particular spot, there were lots of Dwarf Greenhoods. I found no Nodding Greenhoods nor any other Pterostylis species. However, approximately 200 metres due south-west of this site, I will find the others!

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It was windy enough today for my face to get a bit burnt. OK - I cheated and used my clipboard to block the wind when photographing the orchids!

In my Field Guide (circa 1975) "Golden Moths or Snake Orchid" is known as Diuris pedunculata but I believe it's now known as Diuris chryseopsis.

Pheladenia deformis.

Help required with identification of this one, please! :-)

I hope I can find it again when it actually opens. It's a very small plant growing in the open.

Just to maintain some balance, here is a very common weed species, Oxalis purpurea. I've included it because of it's delightful colour.

September 2009 Fungi

This orchid foray caper paid off today! I found a few, but the thrill of the chase was finding my first Morel!

With reasonable moisture over winter and now into Spring, fungi hunting is still in full swing.

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No. 1. Morchella elata - Black Morel. I came across this fungus in an open area as I was heading back to my vehicle. I did a little dance - I have been looking for these for 2 years!

I reckon half the reason they are scarce on the ground is because macropods might be dining on them! I regularly find eaten fungi and what remains of the stalk renders them unidentifiable.


No. 2 (underside) is Panus fasciatus which was growing on a thick stick.
Decurrent gills and inrolled margin.

Top view. Note the stiff hairs. This one was about 4cm in width.


No. 3 is Coltricia cinnamomea. This photo shows pore surface.

This fungus is known for its satin sheen.

Here's another example of Coltricia cinnamomea. Approximately 2.5cm diameter.

This shot shows the trunk-like structure of the root. It grows on sub-surface wood and tree roots.

No. 4. is an unidentified slime mould. I don't believe it's Fuligo septica. Any help would be gratefully received! :-)

No. 5 might be Psilocybe species. Spore print was dark chocolate.

No. 6 - Aleurina ferruginea. Tiny ones!

No. 7 is Peziza austrogeaster. This one looks as though it's been dusted with icing sugar! This fungus looks like an Earthstar without the puffball. This one would have been about 1.5 to 2cm diameter.

More Greenhoods

Drunk with power as a result of my little foray into orchid country yesterday, I decided to go on another excursion today. I'm glad I did! It was a bit windy , so the photos are less than ideal, unfortunately.

Denis gave me a very good link to Victorian orchids and I might have stumbled on a bit of an uncommon one!

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If I am correct, this looks very like Pterostylis X ingens or the Sharp Greenhood. According to Colin's Orchid site, this is "endemic, unusual".
Also, it's a cross breeding between the Nodding Greenhood (Pterostylis nutans) and the Sickle Greenhood (Pterostylis falcata)


I think this is the Nodding Greenhood - Pterostylis nutans.
These Greenhoods were all growing together and I located them very quickly (about 30 seconds) after I locked the Ute up!

Plenty of these everywhere at the moment. I do love these pretty little flowers. Early Nancy - Wurmbea dioica.

I missed decent shots of the Golden Moths (Diuris pedunculata) and am blaming the wind!!

Orchids and Stuff!

Orchids are starting to make an appearance here and I found several colonies of what I believe are the Dwarf Greenhoods and one I've not encountered before. I think it might be Corybas species - possibly Corybas diemenicus which is known to this region of Victoria. I also found Caledenia deformis/Pheladenia deformis (Bluebeard Caladenia) today but botched the photos!!

Help - Botany bloggers!! :-)

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Possibly Corybas diemenicus (Slaty Helmet-orchid)

Rear view of what I think is Pterostylis nana (Dwarf Greenhood)

Ah yes! Acacia paradoxa (I think!!!) Also known as the Hedge Wattle and I spend a lifetime picking the thorns out of my sweater; from my hair; from the back of my neck! This shrub and I have established a love/hate relationship because it is everywhere in various stages of its lifespan in Fungi Country!

Corrections welcome, of course :-)

UPDATE: Thanks to Denis, we have some reclassifications.

Slaty Helmet Orchid now known as Corysanthes incurvus and the Dwarf Greenhood now known as Linguella nana.

http://www.retiredaussies.com/ColinsHome%20Page/Orchids.htm