Knowing that mid summer is not a good time for Australian flowers (and plants in general) I visited
Baluk Willam Flora Reserve
in February 2003, not expecting anything much.
With that attitude you are always pleasantly surprised when something does show up.
This is one of only a few mid-summer flowering Australian terrestrial orchid species.
Returning in late January 2004 I expected them however I was surprised once more by their profusion.
They were more widespread than I had expected and also flowering a little earlier.
My reference also suggests they reach a mere 40cm but I found many to 50cm and measured one at 69cm high.
There was a bit of variation in coloring, some had green stalks and their labellum contained a lot of green
while other had purple stalks and completely red labellums.
I have also found them in Doongalla Forest (part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park) in January 2004.
| Flowering Time |
Flower Numbers |
Maximum Height |
Flower Size |
Summer
Mid January to mid March |
6-15 off a single stalk |
69cm |
~20mm long |
|
|
|
