Thelymitra ixioides & Friends

We had some warm weather a couple of weeks ago so I took advantage and went on the Sun Orchid trail again.

Denis has an excellent post on Thelymitra species here .

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Thelymitra ixioides on the wrong side of the sun for optimum photography, hence they are a bit "hot" ! :-)

This, I think, is the Common Rice Flower, Pimelea humilis. There was quite a little colony of them growing in the block containing remnant vegetation about 50 metres from my house. No orchids this year, unfortunately, but I have seen Petalochilus there in the past.

Leptospermum myrsinoides or Heath/Silky Tea Tree.


This Pimpernel, a small member of the Primulaceae family is classed as a weed but not a rotten one, apparently. I found lots of it adding a lovely splash of blue and red colour to my walks during October.

Anagallis arvensis

Arachnorchis dilatata and "White Fingers"

What a thrill I had yesterday finding my first Spider Orchid!

Because of the relative warmth, I went in search of Sun Orchids but only found one lonely little Rabbit Ears (Thelymitre antennifera) and a minute version of the Slender Sun Orchid (Thelymitre pauciflora) the flower measuring no more than 10mm in diameter. Well, I assume it was that one. I am yet to process the shots.

It happens a lot to me, finding stuff only strides away from my vehicle and that's how it was yesterday. On my way back to the Utility, I cast a glance to the right as I passed beneath a large Eucalypt and there it was!
Cursing the wind which had picked up considerably, I hoped I would manage a couple of printable images of the Green-comb Spider Orchid.

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Flushed with enthusiasm, I decided to have a bit of a look around other vegetation close by before leaving the area and found these beautiful white Fingers orchids.

I'm pretty sure they are Petalochilus catenata, the White Fingers. They were growing through a heathy type plant. There are two rows of very pale lemon cali and the labellum 'tongue' is pale yellow. These were lovely. You will notice some damage to one of the flowers.

Now for something a bit different, here's the Common Hover Fly doing its thing on Burchardia umbellata or "Milkmaids". These pretty little flowers are bursting out everywhere now. The Hover Fly was not the focus of this photo! It's a cropped version of a larger photo of the flowers.

Stegostyla et al

A couple of tough ones today!

This has to be Stegostyla species. Two known to be in my area are Stegostyla iridescens (Western Bronze) which this one possibly is and S. cucullata, the Hooded Caladenia.

UPDATE: Thanks to Denis' research, this orchid is Stegostyla cucullata. If you open the link, you will see Denis found a different species of the tiny Caladenia, Petalochilus mentiens and he has confirmed (in comments to this entry here) mine is Petalochilus pusillus.

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Stegostlya cucullata

There was no colour on the petals (they were white) but for the speckling on the tips. Now this is where it becomes confusing! From what I've been able to determine with regard to S. iridescens, there is some petal colouring. However, the very dark purple labellum and composition probably rule out other Steogstyla species.

I found two colonies of them, both growing around old gold diggings.

This tiny Caladenia species is probably Petalochilus pusillus, the Tiny Petalochilus Orchid. The ones I've found are all the same colour and the flower measures no more than 10mm diameter.

This is Platylobium obtusangulum - Common Flat Pea. The leaf quite angular and it has a spreading habit.

Dillwynia globerrima - Smooth Parrot Pea, I believe.

I almost missed this small plant.

Grevillea alpina or Cats Claws/Mountain Grevillea.

Corrections welcome as usual.

Diuris behrii?

I had another good day wandering around yesterday. With the first relatively sunny day for some time, I decided to check my Sun Orchid site again.

There were a number of these Diuris growing and at first glance, I thought they were "Golden Moths" except the stems were quite long.

I photographed a couple of different specimens and after I processed the photos, I compared them to Diuris behrii on Colin's Victorian orchid site, together with a couple of other images I found on the Internet.

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Diuris behrii is known to grow in Western Victoria.

This was a fantastic find in a different location to the Diuris. A pale form of Glossodia major which was growing through a shrub. To the left of this flower was the normal Wax lip growing through the same shrub.

I understand this pale form is quite uncommon.

The first Kennedia prostrata (Running Postman) I've seen this season.

It looks like another sunny and reasonably still day coming up so I will go for another patrol sometime today. I managed to mow the lawns yesterday, so I reckon I've bought myself a little more 'botany' time! :-)

Petalochilus carnea

Yesterday, I decided to enter my orchid area from a different access point. The purpose of the exercise was to actually check for populations of Petalochilus ornatus (see blog entry 5/10) in a different location. Of the 10 "Pink Fingers" colonies, I found at least 7 of them had 1 to 3 P. ornatus represented.

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I think this is Petalochilus carnea because of the greenish column and the horizontal red striping on the labellum. Corrections, welcome - as usual!

Here are some wildflowers just starting to bloom. Again, I have no idea what I'm doing but I'll have a stab at identification. Those identifications cited are known to be in my area.


Stackhousia monogyna?

Hibbertia sericea?


Lissanthe strigosa? Leucopogon species? Or Epacris species?

A spikey looking leaf. This was quite a small plant.

Petalochilus ornatus?

UPDATE (2) I received confirmation on my ID from the Department of Sustainability & Environment (DSE). This orchid is Petalochilus ornatus. Furthermore, it is now listed as rare in Victoria and remains vulnerable in other states. The Department is likely to require specimens to be sent to the Herbarium.

There may be a touch of excitement in the air here - but we must remember, I have no idea what I'm doing with this orchid caper!

On my little walk today, I found heaps of what I think were "Pink Fingers" (Petalochilus carnea) but a few looked a bit different from the others although they were growing together. The labellum seemed really red. Remembering Denis' advice regarding some Pterostylis changing as they age, I thought at the time, that's probably what's happening here.

Then I found a dark specimen (top photo)

On Colin's Orchid site, I discovered Petalochilus ornatus (Ornate Pink Fingers) which has a red labellum; known to be in my area and furthermore, it's vulnerable!

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Could this orchid be Petalochilus ornatus? If it is, then I would let 'those who need to know' know!

I am very guarded about my orchid locations, but something of significance would probably help ensure my site retains its current classification, protected by the State Government, one would hope!

This was the first one I found today. The petals were paler than the one above and was in a different location.

This specimen was found in the same location as the darker one (1st photo)

UPDATE: Currently awaiting 'phone call from local DSE officer (endangered flora) to confirm/negate my identification of this orchid!

Now for something a bit easier, I think this little pea flower belongs to the prostrate, minute leaved Eutaxia microphylla. These are the first pea flowers I've seen so far this season.

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.