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A few years ago less than 500 plants were
recorded for this orchid, since then with conservation principles being
applied the numbers have risen to around 4000 plants. They are
endangered still as they grow in only a few colonies which are close to
human activity and more importantly are subject to attack by choughs, who
use the orchid tubers as food. Their beaks are used to uncover the tuber
and peck it out, leaving the entire visible plant untouched but unlikely
to survive. Hand pollination is being carried out to help nature along. Photographed near Talbot, Victoria |
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Details (Vic): Flowering: Flowering October to January, mainly November to December. Size: Up to 5cm tall, flowers - usually 1to 6, to 15mm across, opening sequentially. Location: Central Victorian goldfields areas, often in disturbed ground on moss in open areas. Endemic, Endangered.
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| These flowers are very hard to locate in
summer due to their size and colour - they blend perfectly into the
overall view. To locate the orchids plant surveys are conducted when the plants rosettes are appearing in Late July/ early August. The rosette has withered by the time the flower is blooming. Rosettes at this time are from 10 to 35mm in circumference and have from 5 to 15 leaves. The larger rosettes at this time are often in bud. The ground is often bare and seemingly inhospitable (below) The new rosette, left has the old flower from last year - this will soon make way for a new flower bud. |
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 Time passes and as the leaves fade the new buds appear. Unfortunately only a few rosettes produce a bud/flower.
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