Probably the best purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) I saw this spring near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC.
I only made it down for a brief visit at the start of November this year so a lot of plants were not out in full flower when I was there. Numbers seemed down on previous years but there might have been a lot more out a week or so later.
#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #Diuris
Purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) and Trigger plants (Stylidium sp.) on the edge of Croajingalong National Park, East Gippsland, VIC.
Most of the trigger plants out here were this very attractive pale-flowering form with tall flower spikes.
#Orchids #Stylidium #TriggerPlants #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #Diuris
Early morning purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC.
A fairly widespread species in VIC and NSW but generally uncommon and only found in disjunct populations (regarded as vulnerable in VIC due to habitat depletion).
#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #Diuris
Purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) out in heathland on the edge of Croajingolong National Park, East Gippsland, VIC.
Not as many of these beautiful orchids out this spring compared to recent wetter years but still a few plants in bud so might be more flowering later in the season.
#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #Diuris
Diuris sulphurea (tiger or hornet orchid) near the Wonboyn River, NSW. This widespread species is often the last yellow Diuris flowering in East Gippsland (into January at some locations) but I only came across this one plant out on my last quick trip across the border - and that was still in NSW! The lack of spring rain might have cut short the flowering season in some places this year.
#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #Diuris
Diuris maculata (spotted donkey orchid) starting to flower near Narrabarba, NSW. Photobombed (again!) by the flower spiders that hang out on almost all of these donkeys.
#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #Diuris
Diuris orientis (eastern donkey orchid / wallflower orchid) variations growing together near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.
Didn't see a lot of even the typical coloured form this spring with dry conditions maybe cutting the flowering season a little shorter than better years? The all yellow flowering forms are always more uncommon - but only saw the one single plant anywhere this year.
#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #Diuris
Spotted donkey orchid (Diuris maculata) with flower spider near Gipsy Point, East Gippsland, VIC. Almost all of the Diuris orchids at this location host one of these very small spiders hoping to dine out on the insects attracted by the flowers.
#Orchids #Spiders #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #EastGippsland #InTheField #Nature #Diuris
Diuris orientis (eastern donkey orchid / wallflower orchid) completely yellow flowering variation near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.
Yellow flowering forms of this widespread species are fairly uncommon and often only appear in the next spring after summer fires - before plants apparently revert back to more typical reddish orange colours in subsequent seasons. Only the one plant of any colour out at this location (which I'm pretty sure hasn't had fires since 2020?)
#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #Diuris
Silver Dory
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