Mountain Forest Orchids
Last week I was up in the mountain forests of Namadgi and I found s patch of woodland that was rich with orchids. There were four species within fifty metres. As with most orchids, if we walk slowly, watch where we tread, we'll find them. These plants are so easily overlooked as they have simple leaves, slender stems and small, often inconspicuous flowers. Just be careful not to step on any that are not yet in flower, they are especially difficult to see.
The long stem, 200mm, of a Highland Golden Moth Diuris monticola rises well above the leaf and bark litter on the alpine forest floor at1200m. This is an upland species that is related to D. chryseopsis which grows on lower ground.
There were several groups of several plants in the woodland. Most of the plants had double flowers, which were more a sulphur than golden yellow.
The straight stem, 300mm, and curved green and white hood of a Large Mountain Greenhood Pterostylis monticola. Again, there were several stands of several plants, all in flatter wetter ground.
The hooded flower, simple, yet perfectly balanced intricacy
A single stem, 300mm, of a Cinnamon Bells Gastrodia sesamoides holds its three drooping flowers up above the ground cover where insects can more easily find them. There was one other plant which was not yet in full flower. Its unopened buds were drooping from the stem.
These were once called Potato Orchids.
A species of Bird Orchid Chiloglottis sp. A single flower on a very upright stem, 60-70mm, with two basal leaves. This tiny plant was growing in moist soil close to the Greenhoods.
Unfortunately, this one was not fully open and there were no others in flower nearby, so the precise identification is uncertain.
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