Orchids

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

Chiloglottis valida (Large Bird Orchid) at Glen Allen, NSW - 3 Nov 2024 by RobG1

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

Latest sightings

Dipodium roseum at Tharwa, ACT by Clarel

Diplodium decurvum at Tharwa, ACT by Clarel

Paraprasophyllum alpestre (Mauve leek orchid) at Munyang, NSW by Liam.m

Paraprasophyllum alpestre (Mauve leek orchid) at Thredbo, NSW by Liam.m

Prasophyllum sp. at Thredbo, NSW by Liam.m

Cryptostylis subulata (Cow Orchid) at Krawarree, NSW by Liam.m

Spiranthes australis (Austral Ladies Tresses) at Glen Allen, NSW by Csteele4

Corunastylis nuda (Tiny Midge Orchid) at Glen Allen, NSW by Csteele4

Eriochilus magenteus (Magenta Autumn Orchid) at Tharwa, ACT by Clarel

Spiranthes australis (Austral Ladies Tresses) at Tharwa, ACT by JaneR

Spiranthes australis (Austral Ladies Tresses) at Paddys River, ACT by Bubbles

Diuris semilunulata (Late Leopard Orchid) at Tinderry, NSW by RobG1

Diuris monticola (Highland Golden Moths) at Tinderry, NSW by RobG1

Diplodium aestivum (Long-tongued Summer Greenhood) at Glen Allen, NSW by NedJohnston

Diplodium decurvum (Summer greenhood) at Glen Allen, NSW by NedJohnston

Corunastylis clivicola at Glen Allen, NSW by NedJohnston

Diplodium decurvum at Cotter River, ACT by NedJohnston

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

Chiloglottis valida (Large Bird Orchid) at Tinderry, NSW by RobG1

Thelymitra x truncata at Tinderry, NSW by RobG1

Caladenia moschata (Musky Caps) at Tinderry, NSW by RobG1

Paraprasophyllum venustum (Charming leek orchid) at Cotter River, ACT by BethanyDunne

Paraprasophyllum alpestre (Mauve leek orchid) at Cotter River, ACT by BethanyDunne

Spiranthes australis (Austral Ladies Tresses) at Booth, ACT by AdamHenderson

Speculantha rubescens (Blushing Tiny Greenhood) at Glen Allen, NSW by BethanyDunne

Diplodium coccinum (Scarlet Greenhood) at Palerang, NSW by Csteele4

Paraprasophyllum venustum (Charming leek orchid) at Tharwa, ACT by BethanyDunne

Calochilus platychilus (Purple Beard Orchid) at Tinderry, NSW by RobG1

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Glen Allen, NSW by NedJohnston

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

Corunastylis nuda (Tiny Midge Orchid) at Glen Allen, NSW by NedJohnston

Microtis unifolia (Common Onion Orchid) at Glen Allen, NSW by NedJohnston

Diplodium atrans (Dark-tip greenhood) at Brindabella, NSW by NedJohnston

Diplodium aestivum (Long-tongued Summer Greenhood) at Brindabella, NSW by NedJohnston

Paraprasophyllum alpestre (Mauve leek orchid) at Cotter River, ACT by NedJohnston

Diplodium decurvum (Summer greenhood) at Forbes Creek, NSW by Bubbles

Diplodium coccinum (Scarlet Greenhood) at Forbes Creek, NSW by Bubbles

Dockrillia striolata (Streaked Rock Orchid) at Wog Wog, NSW by Mulch

Pterostylis monticola (Large Mountain Greenhood) at Snowy Plain, NSW by Berlge

Diplodium decurvum (Summer greenhood) at Tinderry, NSW by danswell

Eriochilus magenteus (Magenta Autumn Orchid) at Tharwa, ACT by nathkay

Diuris monticola (Highland Golden Moths) at Cabramurra, NSW by RangerRiley

Paraprasophyllum alpestre (Mauve leek orchid) at Jagungal Wilderness, NSW by RangerRiley

Dipodium punctatum (Blotched Hyacinth Orchid) at Uriarra Village, ACT by rangerstacey

Calochilus therophilus (Late Beard Orchid) at Tinderry, NSW by NedJohnston

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Uriarra Village, ACT by rangerstacey

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Booth, ACT by JimL

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Cotter River, ACT by dgb900

Dipodium punctatum (Blotched Hyacinth Orchid) at Kambah, ACT by dgb900

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

Caleana minor (Small Duck Orchid) at Aranda, ACT by CathB

Diplodium decurvum (Summer greenhood) at Palerang, NSW by Csteele4

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

Diplodium decurvum (Summer greenhood) at Cotter River, ACT by BethanyDunne

Prasophyllum sp. (A Leek Orchid) at Cotter River, ACT by BethanyDunne

Paraprasophyllum tadgellianum (Tadgell's leek orchid) at Cotter River, ACT by BethanyDunne

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

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Kambah, ACT by Rebeccajgee

Diuris sp. (A Donkey Orchid) at Tennent, ACT by Bubbles

Pterostylis sp. (A Greenhood) at Tennent, ACT by Bubbles

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

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

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Conder, ACT by Shazw

Diplodium decurvum (Summer greenhood) at Palerang, NSW by AlisonMilton

Speculantha multiflora at Glen Allen, NSW by NedJohnston

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

Diplodium decurvum (Summer greenhood) at Cotter River, ACT by Bubbles

Chiloglottis valida (Large Bird Orchid) at Bimberi, NSW by Bubbles

Paraprasophyllum sphacelatum (Large Alpine Leek-orchid) at Cotter River, ACT by Bubbles

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

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Wee Jasper, NSW by courtneyb

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

Calochilus therophilus (Late Beard Orchid) at Gundaroo, NSW by MaartjeSevenster

Dipodium roseum (Rosy Hyacinth Orchid) at Uriarra Village, ACT by JaneR

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Discussion

RobG1 wrote:

Yesterday

I agree, we saw some flowering in the general area on the 8th of January. The altitude looks a little odd on the sighting, it is more like 940m (I think).

Corunastylis nuda

Tapirlord wrote:

2 Feb 2025

Cheers Rob.

Cryptostylis leptochila

RobG1 wrote:

1 Feb 2025

It's a nice find @amarsh

Cryptostylis leptochila

NedJohnston wrote:

31 Jan 2025

@BethanyDunne yeah there were so many of them! It’s a super cool place for orchids isn’t it.