| The Anglesea Area was one that I never really thought of as an area abundant in orchids but on a sunny October day a few of us went on an expedition to find the elusive "Hare Orchid". It had been indicated that the orchid in question was out along the Pt Addis walk and, in fact, there were at least 12 different types of orchid flowering. Another reason for the expedition was to prove our expertise by bettering the 12 mark and create a personal best; perhaps a record of sorts. So what did we find - count on: | |
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We started out around midday at Eumarella
Reserve and soon located the Heart Lip Spider Orchid (Caladenia
Cardiochila). The photo (right) shows a small spider crawling over the orchid. We often noticed that when the photo's we take are blown up on a computer screen, fine spider webs appear that were invisible when we were trying to take the photos. We knew the reason for the webs and it was good to see the action in progress as we photographed the orchid. Within a 100m we found our second orchid, the Mantis Orchid (Caladenia tentaculata) and soon our third, the very noticeable Donkey Orchid (Diuris Orientis). With nothing new coming our way we went off to seek a new area! |
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The Anglesea Heathland was the result and as
we drove along we noticed orchids growing along the roadside.
We stopped and found the wind blowing a gale - well it seemed very strong as
the orchids just moved in and out of the screen and in and out of focus.
Every now and then, when the wind stopped and for a second or two, the
opportunity was there for a shot. Sometimes we got one off; here are the
results. Rabbit Ears (Thelymitra antenifera) - is this because the lower left flower has that brown rabbit ears effect - possible? The others were the Salmon and Spotted Sun Orchids ( Thelymitra ruba & ixiodes). |
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There were lots of yellow
orchids everywhere, then we
realized one was different; it was smaller and did not have the "rabbit ears"
- we snapped away wondering where we had left our orchid identification
book, as we knew this one was a new orchid for us. Well we later identified it as the Twisted Sun Orchid ( (Thelymitra Flexuosa).
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| We moved on, found a track off into the forest, took
it and soon found new orchids. As an aside, when we got back to the car
we had a closer look around and found more of the same within a short
distance - again proving the 50ft. rule.
Ah! What is this rule you ask - well in all our searching for orchids we have often walked kilometres only to find the orchid within a short distance from our parking spot. We now try to look local first then head off to follow our noses! In this area we found the Large White Spider Orchid (Caladenia venusta), the Southern Bearded Greenhood (Pterostylis tasmanica) and also the Plain Lip Spider Orchid ( Caladenia Clavigera). 10 so far and we had not got to our target area - we were going well! |
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| Finally after a quick bite at the Pt Addis
Cultural Walk Car park (Hill
Top) we continued our search. Soon we came across another spider
orchid - but this was much smaller - ah! yes the Small Spider Orchid of
course! (Caladenia parva) just on the edge of the trail. The easily
spotted Pink Fingers was next (Caladenia carnea) and then the orchid we had
come to find - the Hare Orchid (Leptoceras Menziesii). He's just a little fellow- just 15-20mm wide/high. Another orchid must be around the next bend, so we continued on. |
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Soon enough
we came across another orchid. The Tall Greenhood (Pterostylis
longifolia) was out but fading fast. We had seen this back home for
the last month or so. Then we spotted a dead Gnat Orchid, can we
include this in our count - NO! was the joint chorus. We were happy to see another Bearded Greenhood and took a couple of token photographs. We were surprised when we looked on the computer to see that it was yet another new greenhood - the Bearded Greenhood (Pterostylis plumosa). Further on the Waxlip Orchid presented itself (Glossodia major) We took a moment to count up our finds - how many were there now? 13..14 perhaps 15! Well lots anyway.
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We talked to a few other Orchid enthusiasts and learnt of a
few more in the area we had just been too! and we missed them, darn - so we
turned around and spotted the Bronze Caladenia (Caladenia iridescens).
Excitement! Note the little green spider? |
| Back to the Heathland. We stopped as directed, but nothing! We fanned out to increase our chances and yes, by chance we came across the Giant Sun Orchid (Thelynitra aristata) - this was a whopping 50cm high with multiple flower heads, an had as an added bonus - a lovely scent! |
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| Well that was our day and we headed off home with a grand total of 18 Orchids - well 19 if we allowed ourselves the cheek to count a dead Gnat Orchid. So is that a record? I think so, for us and perhaps that's all that counts. | |
| As a P.S. I would like to share a few more photos with you. |
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Above: While we were setting up to take
yet another Spider Orchid, it may just be different - a wasp buzzed thru' and
settled on the Orchid, which promptly grabbed it. The wasp struggled, freed itself and landed on the ground close by, heavy with
pollen! A few
seconds later off it went to visit another orchid or ??
Left: Giant Sun Orchid - pollination in progress |
| Thanks Bob & Sue for the tip-off | Back |
