#thelymitra — Public Fediverse posts

Large duck orchid (Caleana major) and sun orchid with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Only made it down to East Gippsland on three mornings this spring / early-summer but still managed to see a good range of the regular locals (plus a couple of interesting new ones!)

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra #Caleana

Large duck orchid (Caleana major) and sun orchid with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Only made it down to East Gippsland on three mornings this spring / early-summer but still managed to see a good range of the regular locals (plus a couple of interesting new ones!)

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra #Caleana

Large duck orchid (Caleana major) and sun orchid with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Only made it down to East Gippsland on three mornings this spring / early-summer but still managed to see a good range of the regular locals (plus a couple of interesting new ones!)

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra #Caleana

Large duck orchid (Caleana major) and sun orchid with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Only made it down to East Gippsland on three mornings this spring / early-summer but still managed to see a good range of the regular locals (plus a couple of interesting new ones!)

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra #Caleana

Large duck orchid (Caleana major) and sun orchid with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Only made it down to East Gippsland on three mornings this spring / early-summer but still managed to see a good range of the regular locals (plus a couple of interesting new ones!)

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra #Caleana

A few more late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variations near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Only plants in part shade on the edge of the forest were still flowering in early November at this location - usually in slightly damper soils than the adjacent open grassland.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

A few more late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variations near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Only plants in part shade on the edge of the forest were still flowering in early November at this location - usually in slightly damper soils than the adjacent open grassland.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

A few more late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variations near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Only plants in part shade on the edge of the forest were still flowering in early November at this location - usually in slightly damper soils than the adjacent open grassland.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

A few more late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variations near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Only plants in part shade on the edge of the forest were still flowering in early November at this location - usually in slightly damper soils than the adjacent open grassland.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

A few more late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variations near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Only plants in part shade on the edge of the forest were still flowering in early November at this location - usually in slightly damper soils than the adjacent open grassland.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variations near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Quite a few different variations still in flower here in more shaded spots with protection from harsh afternoon sun when more exposed plants have all finished.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variations near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Quite a few different variations still in flower here in more shaded spots with protection from harsh afternoon sun when more exposed plants have all finished.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variations near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Quite a few different variations still in flower here in more shaded spots with protection from harsh afternoon sun when more exposed plants have all finished.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variations near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Quite a few different variations still in flower here in more shaded spots with protection from harsh afternoon sun when more exposed plants have all finished.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variations near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Quite a few different variations still in flower here in more shaded spots with protection from harsh afternoon sun when more exposed plants have all finished.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Sun orchids (Thelymitra) growing close together in open grassland west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Sun orchids with spots (T. ixioides / T. juncifolia) growing alongside T. carnea and several different species in the T. pauciflora group can lead to some beautiful hybrids including T. x irregularis (top right).

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Sun orchids (Thelymitra) growing close together in open grassland west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Sun orchids with spots (T. ixioides / T. juncifolia) growing alongside T. carnea and several different species in the T. pauciflora group can lead to some beautiful hybrids including T. x irregularis (top right).

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Late flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Not sure if slightly different lobes on these plants are just a result of aging - or something different. Only saw one plant like this on the last trip.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Interesting form of Thelymitra × irregularis (crested sun orchid) near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Only one roadside plant out at this location with fewer spots and richer colours than other nearby populations.I haven't seen this beautiful natural hybrid here before.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Black-hooded sun orchid (Thelymitra atronitida) near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. This uncommon species tends to be very shy to flower - usually only see one or two flowers open briefly on warm/humid mornings. A nice patch of plants at this location but only one flower open - and this closed up as I photographed it just before noon.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Crested sun orchid - Thelymitra × irregularis - west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Slightly different form of this beautiful naturally occurring hybrid (thought to be a cross between T. ixioides x T. carnea) compared to plants growing further west near Genoa. As with several other populations I saw this spring there were only a couple of plants out at this location.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Several nice variations in the some of the later sun orchids with spots* west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

*I've decided to go with sun orchids with spots variations rather than spotted sun orchid (Thelymitra ixioides) variations as there are just as many plants at this location that could fall into a broad description of the very similar (and possibly the same species ... right lumpers?) Thelymitra juncifolia (rush-leaf sun orchid). Then there are the various hybrid combinations that might also be in play ...

I might try and work it all out at some stage but I think sun orchids with spots saves some time for now ;)

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Sun orchid (Thelymitra) variations growing close together on the edge of Croajingolong National Park, VIC.

Thelymitra ixioides (spotted sun orchid) are common nearby but in open grassland some smaller-flowering forms are maybe closer to the very similar Thelymitra juncifolia (rush-leaf sun orchid).

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Thelymitra atronitida (black-hooded sun orchid) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC. Flowers only open briefly on warm, humid mornings and then close before midday. Usually starts to flower at this location just as the other local sun orchids have finished.

Only saw one plant out here this year - the dry spring may have reduced the numbers of this later-flowering species, which is usually not common even in good seasons.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Nice pink form of Thelymitra ixioides (spotted sun orchid) near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Have seen one or two pink forms at this location in past years but haven't seen them every spring.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Thelymitra × irregularis (crested sun orchid) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC.

This beautiful naturally occurring hybrid is thought to be a cross between T. ixioides x T. carnea which both grow nearby at this location. Regarded as rare in VIC but managed to see one or two plants flowering at several locations this spring.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra #Hybrids

Slender sun orchid (Thelymitra pauciflora) and pink sun orchid (Thelymitra carnea) flowering close together near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC.

These two small sun orchids combine to form some interesting hybrids at this location but I didn't see any of this exact combination out this year on my quick visit.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Thelymitra ixioides (spotted sun orchid) variations growing side by side in open grassland near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC.

Most spotted suns here have smaller flowers (and fewer flowers per plant on shorter stems) than more typical coastal forms. Flower colour and shape is also very variable with almost no two flowers exactly the same.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Pink sun orchids (Thelymitra carnea) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC. Quite a common species around Genoa in both heathland and open grassland - often combining with other blue-flowering sun orchids growing nearby to form interesting hybrids.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Spotted sun orchids (Thelymitra ixioides) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC.

Most spotted suns at this location have fewer smaller flowers than these more robust plants (which are a bit closer to the typical coastal forms growing around Mallacoota to the east).

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Slender sun orchids (Thelymitra pauciflora) near Gipsy Point, East Gippsland, VIC.

As with other nearby populations of this diminutive sun orchid flower colour can vary a bit between light blue and slightly pink. Most plants here have two or three buds but I've rarely seen more than one flower open completely at a time.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Sun orchid (Thelymitra) near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC - probably a hybrid between Thelymitra ixioides x Thelymitra pauciflora (both flowering nearby).

Similar hybrids are known as Thelymitra × truncata in SA, VIC, NSW, and TAS but this name has also been applied to a wide range of hybrids involving 5 different species.

I've only seen one of these orchids flowering at this location previously - only found one plant out again this year.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Marsh sun orchids (Thelymitra longiloba) on the edge of Croajingolong National Park, East Gippsland, VIC. This is the first time I've seen this species - although I have seen a single plant of the similar Thelymitra improcera just nearby in the past. Always good to see a new species in an area you regularly visit :)

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Slender sun orchids (Thelymitra pauciflora) in open grassland on the edge of Croajingalong National Park, East Gippsland, VIC. Most early flowering plants here have only one or two flowers with colour varying slightly between light blue and a touch of pink.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Spotted sun orchids (Thelymitra ixioides) near Half Moon, NSW. As with populations of this variable species nearby at Mongarlowe there was a nice mix of spotted and not so spotted flowers out here on roadside verges.

Didn't see any other significant colour variations here either - just shades of blue.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #Mongarlowe #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Croajingalong orchids - Slender sun orchid (Thelymitra pauciflora) and large duck orchid (Caleana major) flowering together in open grassland surrounded by sundews and trigger plants. Croajingalong National Park, East Gippsland, VIC.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra #FlyingDucks

Mongarlowe sun orchids - plants out on roadside verges here were mostly fairly typical spotted sun orchids (Thelymitra ixioides - blue with spots) with the occasional really nice unspotted form.

Didn't see any other significant colour variations on the spotted plants - just a couple of slighty pinker unspotted flowers.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #Mongarlowe #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Thelymitra longiloba (marsh sun orchid) in open heathland near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC. A widespread species in VIC but highly localised and only known from small, disjunct populations. There were 10-12 plants at this location with most opening mid-morning.

This is the first time I've seen this species despite visiting this spot in spring at least twice ever year since 2021. Sometimes with sun orchids you just have to be there on the right day at the right time with the right temperature and humidity to see any flowering!

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Slightly larger flowering variation in this year's patch of Corunna backdoor sun orchids (Thelymitra sp. - probably T.peniculata).

These plants with much larger, ribbed leaves came up next to the house and didn't receive any direct sun at all. So they were very shy to flower - this was the only one I saw out, and it only partially opened for an hour or so. Still set a lot of seed though - so probably self-pollinating.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Spotted sun orchids (Thelymitra ixioides) near Genoa Peak, East Gippsland, VIC. Plants and flowers are larger here than other heathland populations nearby and fairly similar in colour and pattern to more coastal populations closer to Mallacoota.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Crested sun orchid (Thelymitra x irregularis) near Genoa, VIC. This beautiful sun orchid is a natural hybrid between T. ixioides (spotted sun orchid) and T. carnea (pink sun orchid) - which were both also flowering at this location.

Was fortunate to see this rare orchid at several locations on my last East Gippsland day trip but there were only one or two plants out in any one place. One of my favourite sun orchids :)

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Spotted sun orchid (Thelymitra ixioides) variations in heathland near Genoa Creek, East Gippsland, VIC. Flower colour here is a lot more consistent than coastal populations closer to Mallacoota but there are still occasional both slightly paler and darker blue forms.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Pink sun orchid (Thelymitra carnea) variations near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC. This small sun orchid grows here alongside both the spotted sun orchid (T. ixioides) and the slender sun orchid (T. pauciflora) resulting in several interesting hybrid forms occurring between the three species.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra