In an earlier post I reported that I had found one solitary Maroonhood Orchid. Since then, I’ve discovered three small colonies. However, I’m unsure if one of these colonies is the same species, or a sub-species. Can anyone help me to correctly identify it from the photographs below? I have spent quite a bit of time … Continue reading Calling Orchid Enthusiasts: Help Please!
Tag: Australian Native Flowers
Mayfly Orchid (Acianthus caudatus)
I’ve been watching a tiny patch of Mayfly Orchids grow for quite some time, checking on their progress every couple of days. As they are growing on the edge of a track created by wildlife, I’ve had my fingers crossed that the orchids didn’t become breakfast for a creature before they flowered. Fortunately, they seem to be … Continue reading Mayfly Orchid (Acianthus caudatus)
Tall Greenhood (Pterostylis longifolia)
I found this Tall Greenhood yesterday when I decided to veer off the walking path and investigate a track created by animals. This track just led from the walking path to the boundary fence, and was the way on and off our property for wallabies and kangaroos. Nearby was a healthy population of Maroonhoods, which … Continue reading Tall Greenhood (Pterostylis longifolia)
Climbing Sundew Flowers (Drosera macrantha)
I’ve posted a few photographs of the Climbing Sundew plant, including macro images of the amazing pod-like leaves, with their red, sticky hairs poised to capture insects. This week, the flowers have emerged. The swollen, hairy buds almost look like Poppy buds. The flower itself looks similar to the Scented Sundew flower, with the surprising addition … Continue reading Climbing Sundew Flowers (Drosera macrantha)
Maroonhood (Pterostylis pedunculata)
It felt like a Spring day today, even though it is still Winter in Australia. The sun was shining, the air was still, and all around me I could hear the calls of a myriad bird species. Knowing I could probably have taken some good bird photographs if I had changed lenses, I stuck to … Continue reading Maroonhood (Pterostylis pedunculata)
Common Beard-heath (Leucopogon virgatus)
Last year, I tried to show the tiny flower of the Common Beard-heath, photographing it against a ruler, so it was possible to see just how small. Unfortunately, the lens I had at the time was not powerful enough to show the intricate detail of the flower and buds. I’m happy to report that the … Continue reading Common Beard-heath (Leucopogon virgatus)
Unfurling Helmet Orchid Flowers
As the Helmet Orchid buds swell, it is difficult to tell if they are flowering simply by looking at them. The only way I can work this out is to photograph them and look at the photos on the computer. In the process, I have captured the way the flowers open, which I’ve found utterly … Continue reading Unfurling Helmet Orchid Flowers
Pink-Bells (Tetratheca ciliata)
A relative of the Black-Eyed Susan, which grows in New South Wales, the Pink-Bells flower is very beautiful. Usually blooming in Spring, the couple of flowers I photographed were very early. I wasn’t the only one who liked them. When I went back today to check on their progress, I noticed they had been … Continue reading Pink-Bells (Tetratheca ciliata)
Slaty Helmet Orchid Bud (Corybas incurvus)?
I’ve placed a question mark in the title of this post because the bud is so small and it may prove to be something else. However, from a little bit of research, I’m fairly confident that I’ve finally found a Helmet Orchid! Looking at other photos on the Internet, I think I have enough information … Continue reading Slaty Helmet Orchid Bud (Corybas incurvus)?
Beginning to Emerge: Nodding Greenhoods
I can’t claim these are the first Nodding Greenhoods to appear this season – I saw others a few days ago which seem to have been eaten before I photographed them. I hope the Swamp Wallabies enjoyed the meal. Nevertheless, it is fantastic to see the graceful flower heads rising up from the earth … Continue reading Beginning to Emerge: Nodding Greenhoods
Wood-sorrel: Exotic or Native?
I’ve discovered there are two species of yellow flowering Wood-Sorrel (Oxalis) which look very similar, and are often confused. One is native to Australia, the other is an exotic (weed) originally from South Africa. Looking at the flowers of both species, I believe this could be the Australian native plant Grassland Wood-sorrel (Oxalis perennans). Can anyone … Continue reading Wood-sorrel: Exotic or Native?
Climbing Sundew with Trapped Insect
Cranberry Heath (Astroloma humifusum)
Although Cranberry Heath is already on the plant species list, I initially misidentified it, and the post is not as specific as it should be. Here are two photographs taken in June of a small Cranberry Heath plant growing alongside the dam. The red flowers are tubular, with a star-shaped opening. The Latin name reflects this … Continue reading Cranberry Heath (Astroloma humifusum)
First Scented Sundews of the season
I’ve been watching the buds on the tiny Scented Sundew plants grow over the last week or so, and today I’ve had the good fortune to see the first flowers of the season. Consisting of five white petals and stamens tipped in a clear yellow, these flowers are the definition of simple beauty. The leaves … Continue reading First Scented Sundews of the season
First Guinea Flowers of the Season
The first Guinea Flowers of the season are beginning to open. Looking at the leaves, as well as the flowers, as far as I can tell these are the Erect Guinea Flower (Hibbertia riparia). However, according to my field guides, the Erect Guinea Flower begins flowering in September. So I will check a few other sources … Continue reading First Guinea Flowers of the Season
Pink Common Heath (Epacris impressa)
Here are the photographs of the pink Common Heath flowers I wrote about in yesterday’s post. So far, I have only found one plant with pink flowers, but we have quite a few Common Heath plants with white flowers. It always seems to be a race to photograph these flowers before the Swamp Wallabies … Continue reading Pink Common Heath (Epacris impressa)
Common Heath (Epacris impressa)
Common Heath flower spikes have been putting on a good show over the last couple of weeks. We have white Common Heath flowers on our property, but there are both pink and red varietals too. When left alone by the Swamp Wallabies, the plants have grown somewhere between 30 cm and 60 cm high here, … Continue reading Common Heath (Epacris impressa)
Common Bottle-daisy (Lagenophora stipitata)
While not plentiful, we had a few Bottle-daisy plants in flower last Spring. The photos below were taken at the end of October and mid November. Although a native plant to this area, compared to the showy orchids, lilies, bluebells, native pea plants and goodenia, the Bottle-daisy flowers looked quite ordinary to me. They seemed quite … Continue reading Common Bottle-daisy (Lagenophora stipitata)
Small Mosquito Orchid Part 2
Here is a photo gallery to more clearly show the Small Mosquito Orchid (Acianthus pusillus). This follows an earlier post “Small Mosquito-orchid or Tiny Gnat Orchid (Acianthus pusillus)” and several useful photography tips from Mary McAvoy. Thank you Mary! The plants in the photos below range from about 2 cm high (the leaf) to 5 or … Continue reading Small Mosquito Orchid Part 2
Scented Sundew Leaves
Scented Sundew flowers began to appear in August, last year. As is my habit, I photographed them, identified them, and posted the photos on my blog. Prior to that, I must have walked past hundreds of Scented Sundew plants without even knowing they were there. Once identified, never forgotten – well, not easily forgotten anyway. I … Continue reading Scented Sundew Leaves
Small Mosquito-orchid or Tiny Gnat Orchid (Acianthus pusillus)
We’ve been here for two Spring seasons now. Each time, my friend BJ has told me we’re too late to see the Helmet Orchids. She was able to identify some that had finished flowering, so I know they are here. Yesterday I decided to get out my Orchid book and see when the Helmet Orchids … Continue reading Small Mosquito-orchid or Tiny Gnat Orchid (Acianthus pusillus)
Blue Stars (Chamaescilla corymbosa var. corymbosa)
I photographed Blue Stars in September 2013, but when I look back at 2012 photographs, I have included it in the October Wildflowers series. In any case, we seemed to plenty of them in Spring, and they did flower across both months. Initially I thought this might be a member of the Lily family, but the … Continue reading Blue Stars (Chamaescilla corymbosa var. corymbosa)
Button Everlasting (Helichrysum scorpioides)
I found these Button Everlasting flowers in October and November. The plants were growing in transition zones between the grassed areas around the house and the bush. One plant was growing IN the lawn. This makes me wonder if they are naturally occurring or if they have been planted. The previous owners did plant some native species … Continue reading Button Everlasting (Helichrysum scorpioides)
Tiny Greenhood (Pterostylis parviflora)
Yesterday during a visit, a very sharp-eyed friend pointed to something that looked to me like a small blade of grass and said “Oh look! A little Greenhood.” The other Greenhoods we have had growing here seem to appear in late Winter, or early Spring, so I was a little doubtful, but took a … Continue reading Tiny Greenhood (Pterostylis parviflora)
Fifteen Acres 