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The beautiful pink shades of the Hyacinth Orchids, Dipodium roseum, are still brightening up the bush in many areas. The Horned Orchids, Othoceras strictum, have fertilised with the swollen ovaries indicating the presence of many seeds.

 

fertilisedhornedorchidFertilised Horned Orchid

A few Flying Duck Orchids, Caleana major, and Small Duck Orchids, Caleana minor, may still be seen. The first autumn orchids usually seen each year are the Midge Orchids Corunistylis sp. and it is pleasing to record that the Sharp Midge Orchid, C. despectans, is in flower along No 2 Rd, and a few Bearded Midge Orchids, C. morrissii, are already in flower along Forest Rd where the roadside verge has been recently slashed.

Sharp Midge Orchid

Bearded Midge Orchid

Fringed Midge Orchids, C. ciliata,are still to appear, so keep your eyes peeled. There will be more of these Midge Orchids appearing as autumn progresses.

Fringed Midge Orchid

The Autumn Bird Orchids, Chiloglottis curviclavia, are producing tiny leaves and with a little rain, buds should start growing soon.

This time last year the first Parsons Bands Orchid, Eriochilus cucullatus, was observed flowering along Forest Rd, but as yet this species has not been noticed this year. The first greenhoods Tiny Greenhood, Pterostylis parviflora, and Brown-tipped Greenhood, P. clivosa, should have their rosettes appearing soon.

A few things to look out for in the next couple of months – by April we’ll be looking for the heart-shaped leaves of the Mosquito Orchid, Acianthus pusillus, and the Fringed Hare Orchids, Leporella fimbriata. Look for the elliptical, green single leaves with red veins.

mosquitoMosquito Orchid Leaf

fringedhareleavesFringed Hare Orchid leaf

The Autumn Greenhood, P. ampliata, should appear after good autumn rains and Banded Greenhoods, P. sanguinea, will start to appear in May.

We are hopeful that autumn rains will help all our orchids – the bushland is just so very dry at the present time. One wonders just how do these fragile flowers push their way through the compacted soil. All of our orchids are documented and photographed in Orchids of the Anglesea District unfortunately now out of print. We can assure you a new edition is well on its way to publication. It is now in the hands of the publisher. Please make sure you let us know of any unusual sightings you have.

Margaret MacDonald margmac@icloud.com Alison Watson alisonw577@gmail.com