Spring Flora

False Sarsaparilla Hardenbergia violacea 

It has been a wet Spring in Canberra this year, following a wet winter, so there is lots of growth sprouting in the bush. All the plants need now is a bit of sunshine and warmth to bring out the flowers. Although the fruit has blossomed well, I fear that there have been too few insects out and about to pollinate them. I'll know in a week or so, and the local wild flowers might be having the same problem.

Alpine Grevillea Grevillea australis

Nature is full of surprises though and when I was out for a walk through the forest on Black Mountain the other day I was amazed at how many flowers were out in bloom. Purple tufts of False Sarsaparilla were creeping over the ground and up through shrubs, the local native grevillea, the Alpine Grevillea, was showing as well as such a shy flower can show, and the moist air was rich with the scent of wattle - several species were in flower. While all around there were tiny single-flowered orchid stems. Their subtle tones hidden, then shown, by shadows and speckles of light dropping through the leafy canopy.

Box-leaf Wattle Acacia boxifolia

The main insects I saw were Painted Lady and Cabbage White butterflies. Although of course to our human eyes, those would have been the obvious ones. I did see some flies dotting about and several caterpillars on leaves. A few were stretching and folding themselves across the paths after a rain shower. I hope there were more.

Dusky Fingers Caladenia fuscata - white form - about 10 cm tall
(Highly sensitive, very rare/threatened)

Yet, once again, despite all the abundant purples, reds and yellows, filling the woodland with a coloured haze, it was the teeny inconspicuous orchids that stole the show. Why are we attracted to orchids so much? Well, for me, it is the way such small, highly specialised plants can grow in such nutrient-poor soils. They were literally shooting straight out from the leaf and bark litter on the forest floor, with nothing but a poor stony soil beneath.

Dusky Fingers Caladenia fuscata - pink form

These finger orchids are so short that we have to get down on our hands and knees, or lower to see the detail of their flower forms. Yet, they are probably holding their flowers at a perfect height to catch the attention of passing flies or whatever insect they rely on for pollination. For, as witnessed, most flies that I did see were hovering and wandering through the forest at just such a height as they passed through the low shrub layer. There was probably another set of insects flying through the canopy, where the next layer of greenery grew.

Blue Fingers Cyanicula caerulea 
(Highly sensitive, very rare/threatened)

It's good to take a ground level look at the world now and then. To see it as others do.

Mist Forest

Mount Gower (on the right) is often kissed by cloud on even bright sunny days

On a recent trip to Lord Howe Island, I went up onto the summit plateau of Mount Gower to see the lush growth of plants there - mist forest plants, growing on a sub-tropical island far out in the ocean.

The cloud which gathers on the summits of Mounts Lidgbird and Gower
 adds height to the perspective when seen from the fields

The twin peaks of Mounts Lidgbird and Gower stand tall over the rest of Lord Howe Island and to me, with my sense of exploration, I just had to go up there, to Mt Gower, the higher of the two at 875m.

The mist brings water to what might otherwise be a very dry place

There is no easy way up there, as the rise is so steep and cliffs block most lines of approach.

The first part of the climb follows the path across this cliff at mid-height,
then around the corner and up a steep valley to the final tower

On the plateau, the vegetation is short, wind-clipped as on most mountains, but still several metres high. Although oceanic, it is so high that there is very little salt in the atmosphere. The whole gives the effect of a ground covering of ferns and shrubs, linked to a low canopy by a tangle of moss-draped branches.

The rich vegetation crowds over the faint path

Overall, the colour is green vivid, leafy green - with the calming effect of a studio green room. And it is dark under the lush spread of palm and fern fronds - difficult conditions for photography.

It is a true jungle up there

Showy plants like the orchids catch most people's attention, but once seen there are other botanical treasures.

Bush Orchid Dendrobium macropus howeanum

Little Mountain Palm Lepdorrhachis mooreana
one of several endemic species only found on the top of these island mountains.

It is the abundance of lush growth that is the overall impression, especially that of the mosses which swarm over branches, stumps and rocks. It is their presence that tells this is a true mist forest, for they could not live without the frequent covering of cloud on those ocean mountain tops. 

Moss in so many forms like this feathery species

A moss blanket spread over a boulder

And a meandering trail of moss climbing over all on its way

Orchids

A cluster of Green-comb Spider Orchids

While mist-netting birds at the weekend, out at the Weddin Mountains, NSW, we found ourselves walking through  woodland understorey grassland, with numerous orchids in the sward. The first species I noticed was the Green-comb Spider Orchid Caladenia tentaculata which was growing in small groups of several flower spikes in several locations. All the flowers looked fresh and newly opened.  

A jewel in the grass

Other species which were frequent if not quite abundant included Purplish Bearded Orchid Calochilus robertsonii (Below), Blue Fingers Cyanicula caerulea, a species of greenhood and one or two species of sun orchid Thelymitra. I was too busy catching and banding birds to take enough photographs of all the species, so I grabbed what images I could on passing and sent them to Denis Wilson who kindly helped to identify them. He has some great illustrations on his own blog at  http://www.peonyden.blogspot.com.au/ .

A spectacular little flower

Orchids

Several species of orchid are now in full flower on Black Mountain in the middle of Canberra. There are over 50 species known for the local patch of dry hilly forest. Here are a few shots of the more abundant species.



A group of Wax-lipped orchids, stand erect with single flowers.

A colony of Nodding Greenhoods stand on a mossy gully bank. Many of the smaller green orchids are easily overlooked.

A single Nodding Greenhood.

A cluster of Pink Finger Orchids. Their flowers dot the ground all over the forest.

A Black Mountain Leopard orchid. A species thought to be unique to the ACT region, but locally common and many are now in flower.