A few more bioluminescent ghost fungi (Omphalotus nidiformis) are starting to appear around Corunna, NSW after a week of rain - including this big fella (trusty Tobisho SR-2s for scale). Might pop back tonight for a couple of bioglow photos if the rain eases off a bit...
A few small patches of bioluminescent ghost fungus (Omphalotus nidiformis) out at Corunna, NSW after recent east coast low rains. Took a couple of photos just before midnight under pale moonlight.
Freak midge orchids (Corunastylis apostasioides / Genoplesium apostasioides) near Monga, NSW. Very small self-pollinating flowers rarely open fully (if at all) and sometimes only one single flower at a time. I've only ever seen one fully-open flower on any plant at this location (in 2021!)
Eriochilus cucullatus (Eastern Bunny Orchid - aka 'Parson's Bands') near Mongarlowe, NSW. Very widespread autumn-flowering orchid in eastern Australia - can also sometimes be seen out in late summer at this location.
Greenhood orchid (Pterostylis sp.) near Mongarlowe, NSW. Possibly P. rubescens but there are several very similar 'tiny greenhood' species also found nearby(ish). This group of smaller-flowering greenhoods (AKA Speculantha) can be tricky to ID without dissection - so not 100% sure what this one might be ;)
Midge orchids near Monga, NSW - probably Corunastylis ostrina* (purple midge orchids) which are more common nearby at Mongarlowe, although there are several very similar dark midges found in this area. Have only ever seen a couple of these tiny summer-flowering orchids at this location. *Still Genoplesium ostrinum in NSW and other places.
Spiranthes australis (Austral Ladies Tresses) near Monga, NSW. A very widespread orchid in eastern AUS - generally a late-summer flowering species at this location but some plants can usually still be seen out in early autumn.
Large Sickle Greenhoods - Pterostylis falcata - near Square Rock, Namadgi NP, ACT. This impressive summer-flowering orchid grows alongside Large Mountain Greenhoods - T. monticola - in swampy grassland at this location (at just over 1000m alt.)
Kelton's Leek Orchid (Prasophyllum keltonii) variations growing close together near Namadgi NP, ACT. Flower colour ranges from lime green to deep purple in this rare species only known from 2 sites. Almost all of the ACT alpine leek orchids are summer-flowering with several species flowering into early-autumn.
Large mountain greenhoods (Pterostylis monticola) near the Cotter River, ACT. Like most of the larger greenhood orchids found at altitude in the ACT P. monticola is summer-flowering with some plants still in flower as late as March.
Morning flight over Eden, NSW with the cruise ship Disney Wonder docked in Twofold Bay. Eden used to look a bit more industrial than this with large petroleum storage tanks and less luxury houses (and cruise ships!) in this view ;)
Summer-flowering orchids near Genoa Creek, VIC - Orthoceras strictum (horned orchid) and Cryptostylis subulata (large tongue orchid). First time I've seen O. strictum at this exact location - but could only find the one plant in flower.
Summer greenhoods (Pterostylis decurva) near Corin, ACT. Fairly widespread summer-flowering greenhood usually found above 800m altitude in ACT/NSW (also VIC + TAS). Can grow in large colonies but I've only ever seen scattered plants at this location.
Grass trigger plants (Stylidium graminifolium) in coastal heathland near Mallacoota, VIC. A lot of variation in flower colour, number and spacing in these coastal populations. While many plants had either finished or were almost finishing flowering some on roadside verges were still resetting new flower stems after early-summer slashing for fire hazard reduction.
Morning light at Gipsy Point, East Gippsland - the Genoa River looks like a rich chocolate sauce from the air after almost 400mm of rain in recent months.
Large tongue orchids (Cryptostylis subulata) in coastal heathland near the Betka River, VIC. The flowering period is quite long on this species (up to 2 months) with many plants having both old and current flowers + new buds still to emerge on display at the end of December. This extended flowering seems to work pretty well with hundreds of plants out at this location!
Rosy hyacinth orchids (Dipodium roseum) near Gipsy Point, VIC. This is the most common species of these leafless mycoheterotrophic orchids found in East Gippsland but these are the only ones I've ever seen at Gipsy Point (as I usually don't drop by this far into summer!)
Kelton's Leek Orchid (Prasophyllum keltonii) near Namadgi NP, ACT. This rare/endangered summer-flowering leek orchid features a lot of nice variations in flower colour - often growing side by side. Only known from 2 sites in NSW + ACT (ACT population was included in P. canaliculatum until recently).
Large mountain greenhoods (Pterostylis monticola) near Corin, ACT. Extensive colonies of these impressive summer-flowering orchids can be seen in the mountains behind #Canberra in good seasons - usually at 600-1200m altitude (also NSW + VIC).
Notched onion orchids near Genoa, VIC. A fairly common species in East Gippsland - under more expansive recent treatments of VIC Microtis (Backhouse 2023) these eastern populations with deep notches would be M. biloba. Still included in M. arenaria within more traditional classifications (VicFlora etc).
Musky Cap (Caladenia moschata) at 1200m in Namadgi NP, ACT. Montane forms of this widespread species can flower right through to mid/late December in mild seasons - well after flowering has finished in populations at lower altitudes around Canberra.
Austral Leek Orchid (Prasophyllum australe) near Monga, NSW. Large numbers of these large summer-flowering leek orchids emerged at this location after the 2020 bush fires but I've only seen a handful of plants in recent years as grass and shrubs have grown back and crowded out any orchids.
Veined sun orchid (Thelymitra cyanea) in swampy heathland near Monga, NSW. The in-rolled tips of the yellow lateral lobes are an attractive feature of this summer-flowering species usually found above 1000m altitude although some coastal(ish) populations are known.
Large tongue orchid (Cryptostylis subulata) starting to flower in Croajingolong NP, VIC. This widespread summer-flowering species is fairly common in East Gippsland where plants can remain in flower for more than 2 months (which is a petty long period for a terrestrial orchid - especially compared to some sun orchids which may only open for one afternoon!)
Horned Orchids (Orthoceras strictum) near Genoa, VIC. Part of a small patch of plants with green stems and stem bracts - other horned orchids nearby all have reddish brown stems.
One of only two species in the genus - found in all eastern AUS states (+ New Caledonia) but generally scattered and uncommon in East Gippsland.