East Gippsland sun orchids - Thelymitra carnea (pink sun orchid) + Thelymitra ixioides (spotted sun orchid) growing together near the Genoa River, VIC. These two species combine to form some beautiful hybrids at this location but haven't seen any out yet this spring. 

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography  #Spring  #InTheField #EastGippsland

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 Caladenia carnea (Pink Fingers) near Genoa, VIC. First examples of this variable species I've seen in East Gippsland this year that are getting pretty close to the 'typical' form. Only the occasional multiple flowering plant - and then only two (smallish) flowers max -so still not quite what I'd call 'classic Carnea' ;) 

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography  #Spring  #InTheField #Caladenias

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 Thelymitra carnea (Pink Sun Orchids) just starting to flower near Genoa, VIC. Widespread orchid in AUS (+ NZ) - flowers usually only open on warm sunny days (but plenty of those around this year!). Just a handful of plants out at this location alongside spotted sun orchids (T. ixiodies).

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography  #Spring  #InTheField

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 Black Mountain (ACT) orchids - Dusky Fingers, Waxlips and Brown Caps out in one spot, but not much out at all in others (although I only had a quick look!) Canberra has had pretty much exactly the average rainfall for this calendar year so far - but local bush land and forests still felt a little drier than most really good orchid seasons. Might have to wait until the montane species start to flower later in spring / early summer now to put a lot of time into looking for Canberra orchids.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography  #Spring  #InTheField #Canberra

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 Grevillea macleayana in coastal heathland near Ulladulla, NSW. These coastal forms with mostly entire, elliptic leaves + showy pink/red toothbrush racemes offer a lot of potential as garden plants but don't seem to be as common in nurseries as they were in the 80s/90s when growers still propagated actual species. Generally listed as rare but locally common at Ulladulla and around Jervis Bay.

#Grevilleas #Proteaceae #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField

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 Caladenia catenata (white caladenia/white fingers) near Genoa VIC. Larger than most finger Caladenias with distinctive white flowers (often reclining). Usually one of the first spring orchids out in East Gippsland - good numbers out at this location in open grassland despite recent dry conditions.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #EastGippsland

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 Spotted Donkey Orchids (Diuris maculata) near the Genoa River, VIC. One of the first Diuris out in East Gippsland - can flower as early as August. Only a handful of plants out in open grassland at this location in mid-September.

Used to be known locally as D. pardina which is now thought to be endemic to SA. Most plants previously known as D. pardina in VIC are now called D. curviloba with several coastal populations in East Gippsland included in D. maculata - which also occurs nearby in NSW.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology
#Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField

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 A couple more Thelymitra ixioides (spotted sun orchids) in open forest near Vincentia, NSW. More robust plants (+ more flowers) than other nearby coastal populations but a similar lack of spots (have yet to see a spotted flower on a spotted sun orchid this spring!)

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField

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