Ellura Sanctuary, Swan Reach, SA, 5354
                      
 
Stat'NotesThumbnails: 97.   17 native species listed, with 2 from Ellura
Plants (Plantae) - Land Plants (Charophyta) - Land Plants (Equisetopsida) - Orchids
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
King Spider Orchid
Arachnorchis tentaculata


iNaturalist
RA
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SynonymCaladenia tentaculata

Thank you Reiner Richter & Geoffrey Cox for confirming the id of this species for us

We were quite amazed this, one and only flower we've ever had, lasted for over a month. So a number of shots shown here as it's ages.
On the 1st day it took quite a while to unravel, but by the 2nd day you can see the lower petals have crossed and the top petal hanging overhead in an arc; almost like a ballarina.
A large native orchid standing at ~300mm high, with the labelum being ~10mm wide and the petals approximately 40mm long.
New Flower, iso-view
New Flower, above
New Flower, back
New Flower, profile
New Flower, front
Basal Leaf, on flowering
Stem Leaf, on flowering
1 Hour Flower, profile
1 Day Flower, profile
1 Day Flower, Cap front
1 Day Flower, inside
1 Day Flower, under
3 Day Flower, front, crossed petals
10 Day Flower, profile
20 Day Flower, above
33 Day Flower, starting to dry
🔍Profile, whole
🔍Profile, close
🔍Above, whole
🔍Above, close
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Purple Helmet Orchid
Corysanthes incurva
Na
a
SynonymCorybas incurvus

Other Common NameSlayty Helmet

Unfortunately we just missed out on seeing this one flower. They often don't flower at all, building up strength with just one leaf over the years until the time is right. This was the 1st we knew we even had this species at our home in the Adelaide Hills.
The largest leaf was ~40mm wide.
Woo Hoo, we got the flower this year (2018) images coming soon!
🔍Leaf
🔍Flower, finished
Patch of ~15
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
African Orchid
Disa bracteata
If
a
SynonymMonadenia Bracteata

A very invasive weed that's difficult to eradicate. Partly because they ALWAYS have two tubers. The first one comes up with the plant fairly easily, the second not so much. The second bulb will continue the plants life if not removed. Once the flower head has seeded it's very difficult to extract the plant without spreading seed further. The only way we know is to very genlty tilt the plant into a plastic bag (without any sudden movement) to catch anything that falls off and then dig it up. It's quite possible that cut & spray will work, but we haven't tried that.
In flower
Eaten
Seedling
In Bud & Flowering
Flower Head
Flower
Going to seed
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Wallflower Donkey-orchid
Diuris orientis
RA
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Other Common NameBulldogs Orchid
 
Leaves
Stem & Flower
Flower, Front
Flower, Above
Flower, Throat
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Spotted Donkey-orchid
Diuris pardina
LC
m a
Other Common NamesLeopard Orchid or Spotted Doubletail
 
🔍Flower, under
Flower, above
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Mallee Midge Orchid
Genoplesium nigricans


iNaturalist
NT
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Other Common NameBlack Midge-orchid

Similar Species: Onion-orchid (Microtis cf uniflora)
Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

We were very excited to find this little single stemmed plant under mallee trees, amounst the leaf/bark litter.
The whole plant is only 160mm tall, with the fruit cluster only 15mm high.
We missed this flowering last year, but now we just caught it in April ... last flower remaining.
In our area the only other midge orchid it could be is Red Midge-orchid (Genoplesium rufum).
In relation to the "sheath" photo, Robert Lawrence said "This genus only has one leaf and that is tightly wrapped around the scape. What you have in this picture is the sheath that protects the new shoot until it emerges from the ground."
S2, Flower, profile
S2, Flower, above
🔍S2, Flower, front in focus
🔍S2, Flower, back in focus
🔍S2, Flower Stem with Leaf
🔍S2, Flower Finished
🔍S1, Fruits, profile
🔍S1, Fruits, above
🔍S2, Fruits, profile
🔍S1, Sheath
S1, Single Leaf, withered
🔍S1, Whole
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Purple Cockatoo
Glossodia major


iNaturalist
RA
m a c
Other Common NameWax-lip Orchid

Thank you Reiner Richter for confirming the id of this species for us

A stunning orchid and quite large for a native at 40mm wide (petal tip to petal tip)
Flower, above
Flower, front
Flower, profile
Flower cap, close up
Flower, back
Flower, under
Basal Leaf
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Sweet Onion-orchid
Microtis cf rara
P-R
a
This is a tentative id
Flower head
Whole
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Onion-orchid
Microtis cf uniflora
Na
a
Similar Species: Mallee Midge Orchid (Genoplesium nigricans)
This is a tentative id
Flower head
Whole
Thick flower head
Sparse flower head
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Woodland Onion-orchid
Microtis frutetorum


iNaturalist
RA
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Thank you Alan Dandie for identifying this species for us
 
🔍Whole
🔍Flowers
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Two-bristle Greenhood Orchid
Pterostylis biseta
RA
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Other Common NamesRustyhood or Veined Greenhood

These are fascinating flowers. The two bristles are sensitive to motion. John Smyth tells us this is called an "irritable labellum". An insect will land on the labelum, attracted to the flower by scent. This will trigger the bristles to close the labellum, trapping the insect inside the flower tube. It's only way out is to follow the tube and escape. In the process is brushed against the pollen, thereby fertilising this flower, or taking it's pollen to another
🔍Flower - labellum closed
Flower - labellum open
Flower - labellum, side
Hood, side
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Midget Greenhood Orchid
Pterostylis mutica
LC
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SynonymsHymenochilus muticus or Oligochaetochilus muticus

Other Common NamesBlunt Greenhood or Midget Green-hood

The rosette is more typical of greenhoods, than the swan, being very flat and small.
The rear of the labellum (the appendage) is relatively flat.
Noting the rosette in early life (August) and marking the plants to monitor them, as we did, is the best way to identify them.
This year we found a large number of specimens whose rosettes varied dramatically. We thought we had several species, but all turned out to be just the one.
🔍Head
Rosette
Labellum
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Nodding Greenhood
Pterostylis nutans
Na
a
Other Common NameParrot's Beak Orchid
 
In Bud
In Flower
Patch of Rosettes
Patch in Flower
Young Rosette
Old Rosette
Bud Opening
🔍Flower & Stem
Flower, Above
Flower, Profile & Tongue Petal
Flower, Front & Tongue Petal
Flower, Under
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Maroon-hood Orchid
Pterostylis pedunculata
RA
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Other Common NamesMaroonhood, Maroon hood or Greenhood Orchid
 
Flower
🔍Bud
Patch; 65 rossettes in this patch
Rossette
Whole
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Black Fire-orchid
Pyrorchis nigricans


iNaturalist
RA
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Other Common NameRed Beaks

Thank you Alan Dandie for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Leaf
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Small White Sun-orchid
Thelymitra albiflora


iNaturalist
RA
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Other Common NamePlain Sun-orchid

Thank you Adam Dutkiewicz & Robert Mitchell for identifying and Robert Lawrence & Rusty Ryder for confirming the id of this species for us

The first flower was originally id'ed as T. nuda.
When this happened we questioned Robert Lawrence about the 2nd flower, being a different coloured hood, and he said "It is certainly not typical. It could be leucistic."
🔍Flower
🔍Leucistic Flower?
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Plum Sun-orchid
Thelymitra cf inflata
P-V
a
Thank you Robert Lawrence for identifying this species for us

This is a tentative id, and Robert suggests T. inflata looks similar to T. holmesii, but the habitat is more suited to T. inflata
🔍Flower
Flower, close up
Bud
🔍Flower, side
Asparagus
Asparagales
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Orchid
Orchidaceae
  (18 species
    2 from Ellura)
Salmon Sun-orchid
Thelymitra rubra


iNaturalist
NT
d a
Other Common NameCommon Pink Sun-orchid

Thank you Judy and Rob Peters for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Flower, Whole
Flower, Centre

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