Orchids

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There are about 30,000 species of orchid worldwide making Orchidaceae the largest family of flowering plants. They are found in a diverse range of habitats.

Orchids have distinctive flowers, consisting of three sepals and three petals. The third petal is greatly modified into a specialised structure known as a labellum. Another distinctive feature is the column, a fusion of the sexual parts of the flower (stamens and style) into a fleshy structure. Most terrestrial orchids grow from a tuber which is replaced each year.

Some orchids are designated as rare and endangered plants. Others, although reasonably common, are very localised in their occurence. All orchids are protected species and should not be disturbed in their native habitat. For these reasons all orchids have been included as rare or sensitive plants.

Orchids

Featured sightings

Dipodium interaneum (Yellow Hyacinth Orchid) at Ainslie, ACT - 17 Dec 2024 by LeahColebrook

Thelymitra ixioides (Dotted Sun Orchid) at Charleys Forest, NSW - 24 Oct 2021 by arjay

Oligochaetochilus aciculiformis (Needle-point rustyhood) at Acton, ACT - 9 Oct 2024 by BB23

Caladenia fuscata (Dusky Fingers) at Acton, ACT - 14 Sep 2024 by BB23

Glossodia major (Wax Lip Orchid) at Acton, ACT - 9 Oct 2024 by BB23

Diuris nigromontana (Black Mountain Leopard Orchid) at Acton, ACT - 24 Sep 2024 by BB23

Cyanicula caerulea (Blue Fingers, Blue Fairies) at Bruce, ACT - 8 Sep 2024 by RobertD

Corysanthes incurva (Slaty Helmet Orchid) at Bruce, ACT - 29 Jul 2024 by RobG1

Latest sightings

Dipodium punctatum at Bungonia, NSW by KorinneM

Dipodium roseum at Jingera, NSW by clarehoneydove

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Sutton, NSW by Talie

Chiloglottis valida (Large Bird Orchid) at Jagumba, NSW by MattM

Paraprasophyllum candidum at Gooandra, NSW by MattM

Diuris monticola (Highland Golden Moths) at Jagungal Wilderness, NSW by MattM

Caladenia moschata (Musky Caps) at Glen Allen, NSW by RobG1

Caladenia hildae (Golden Caps) at Glen Allen, NSW by RobG1

Caladenia carnea at Glen Allen, NSW by RobG1

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Paddys River, ACT by JohnBundock

Dipodium punctatum at Bungonia, NSW by AlisonMilton

Dipodium punctatum (Blotched Hyacinth Orchid) at Bungonia, NSW by AlisonMilton

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT by RAllen

Calochilus therophilus (Late Beard Orchid) at Charleys Forest, NSW by arjay

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove

Pterostylis monticola (Large Mountain Greenhood) at Mount Clear, ACT by BethanyDunne

Caladenia alpina (Mountain Caps) at Munyang, NSW by RangerRiley

Diuris monticola (Highland Golden Moths) at Cotter River, ACT by RAllen

Dipodium punctatum (Blotched Hyacinth Orchid) at Chisholm, ACT by RomanSoroka

Diuris semilunulata (Late Leopard Orchid) at Yaouk, NSW by JARS

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Crace, ACT by Anna123

Microtis sp. (Onion Orchid) at Collector, NSW by trevorpreston

Dipodium punctatum (Blotched Hyacinth Orchid) at Cooma, NSW by RobandLou

Gastrodia sesamoides (Cinnamon Bells) at Tharwa, ACT by Frogmouth

Pterostylis monticola (Large Mountain Greenhood) at Tharwa, ACT by Frogmouth

Diuris monticola (Highland Golden Moths) at Tharwa, ACT by Frogmouth

Dipodium interaneum (Yellow Hyacinth Orchid) at Ainslie, ACT by LeahColebrook

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Acton, ACT by TimL

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Numeralla, NSW by Csteele4

Pterostylis falcata (Sickle Greenhood) at Glen Allen, NSW by Csteele4

Chiloglottis sp. (A Bird/Wasp Orchid) at Glen Allen, NSW by Csteele4

Dipodium punctatum (Blotched Hyacinth Orchid) at Conder, ACT by Shazw

Thelymitra sp. (A Sun Orchid) at Tallong, NSW by RobG1

Thelymitra pauciflora (Slender Sun Orchid) at Tallong, NSW by RobG1

Chiloglottis valida (Large Bird Orchid) at Cotter River, ACT by Bubbles

Pterostylis monticola (Large Mountain Greenhood) at Cotter River, ACT by Bubbles

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Farrer, ACT by julielindner

Chiloglottis sp. (A Bird/Wasp Orchid) at Tharwa, ACT by Frogmouth

Dipodium punctatum (Blotched Hyacinth Orchid) at Yarralumla, ACT by jpittock

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Captains Flat, NSW by clarehoneydove

Thelymitra peniculata (Blue Star Sun-orchid) at Gunning, NSW by RobG1

Hymenochilus cycnocephalus (Swan greenhood) at Gunning, NSW by RobG1

Microtis parviflora (Slender Onion Orchid) at Gunning, NSW by RobG1

Thelymitra peniculata (Blue Star Sun-orchid) at Dalton, NSW by RobG1

Dipodium punctatum (Blotched Hyacinth Orchid) at Wanniassa, ACT by LPadg

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Mawson, ACT by Rowdy

Dipodium sp. (A Hyacinth Orchid) at Jincumbilly, NSW by mahargiani

Chiloglottis valida (Large Bird Orchid) at Rossi, NSW by Liam.m

Caleana major (Large Duck Orchid) at Wog Wog, NSW by Liam.m

Thelymitra sp. (A Sun Orchid) at Glen Allen, NSW by mahargiani

Pterostylis falcata (Sickle Greenhood) at Glen Allen, NSW by mahargiani

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Jingera, NSW by Csteele4

Thynninorchis huntianus (Common Elbow Orchid) at Jingera, NSW by Csteele4

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Cook, ACT by CathB

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Cooma, NSW by mahargiani

Dipodium punctatum (Blotched Hyacinth Orchid) at Pearce, ACT by stofbrew

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Tennent, ACT by jmcleod

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Harolds Cross, NSW by courtneyb

Microtis unifolia (Common Onion Orchid) at Captains Flat, NSW by Csteele4

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Hackett, ACT by petersan

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Paddys River, ACT by Bubbles

Pterostylis nutans (Nodding Greenhood) at Acton, ACT by Rebeccajgee

Microtis unifolia (Common Onion Orchid) at Paddys River, ACT by Bubbles

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Kingsdale, NSW by trevorpreston

Diuris monticola (Highland Golden Moths) at Paddys Flat, NSW by JVR

Thelymitra sp. (A Sun Orchid) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT by nathkay

Diuris monticola (Highland Golden Moths) at Cotter River, ACT by nathkay

Gastrodia procera (Tall Potato Orchid) at Acton, ACT by BB23

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Acton, ACT by BB23

Diuris sulphurea (Tiger Orchid) at Uriarra Village, ACT by KenT

Dipodium sp. (A Hyacinth Orchid) at Uriarra Village, ACT by KenT

Microtis unifolia (Common Onion Orchid) at Tinderry, NSW by Csteele4

Microtis sp. (Onion Orchid) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT by BethanyDunne

Eriochilus cucullatus (Parson's Bands) at Paddys River, ACT by Tapirlord

Acianthus exsertus (Large Mosquito Orchid) at Paddys River, ACT by Tapirlord

Pterostylis pedunculata (Maroonhood) at Paddys River, ACT by Tapirlord

Caladenia parva (Brown-clubbed Spider Orchid) at Paddys River, ACT by Tapirlord

Bunochilus montanus (ACT) = Pterostylis jonesii (NSW) (Montane Leafy Greenhood) at Paddys River, ACT by Tapirlord

Corysanthes grumula (Stately helmet orchid) at Paddys River, ACT by Tapirlord

Bunochilus montanus (ACT) = Pterostylis jonesii (NSW) (Montane Leafy Greenhood) at Uriarra Village, ACT by Tapirlord

Diuris sulphurea (Tiger Orchid) at Cotter River, ACT by KorinneM

Diuris monticola (Highland Golden Moths) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT by nathkay

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Bombay, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Queanbeyan West, NSW by Paul4K

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Discussion

arjay wrote:

Yesterday

Well this is a new plant. A reasonable distance from the other therophilus here. And in a place that it would be very hard to miss when flowering. So I guess we can expect it to be even taller next year. Frightening thought.

Calochilus therophilus

DerekC wrote:

Yesterday

Yes, 600mm is tall but the suggested height is 400 - 950mm and I know I have seen them that tall on Black Mountain in the ACT. The other thing about this genus to consider, besides seasonal changes/responses to growth, is its observed development over years, where individual plants increase in size each year as they develop and appear to, following some trigger, to put all their effort into a greater flowering followed by them then apparently exhausting. While this an explanation for the observed behavior I am not sure if this has been specifically studied or yet confirmed.

Calochilus therophilus

arjay wrote:

Yesterday

It is odd that it is so tall not that the flowers are not yet all out. It will be taller when the flowers are finished. And yes they do open successively. Most of them are down at the 300 mm height rather than double that and probably taller by the time it has finished flowering.

Calochilus therophilus

DerekC wrote:

22 Dec 2024

I am seeing 5 or 6 flowers and only 3 stems. These stems while short are reasonably robust. I also think these are C. carnea.

Caladenia carnea

DerekC wrote:

22 Dec 2024

A feature of C. therophilus is a progressive flower opening over several weeks. With the lower flowers opening first and each successive flower/s opening then closing up the stem rather than a more complete group opening.

Calochilus therophilus