A few of Gippsland's terrestrial orchids

Victoria has around 3% of Australia’s land mass and about 25% of this continent’s terrestrial orchid species.

Terrestrial orchids are often tiny, well hidden in the undergrowth or transient, or all three. With spring on our doorstep, some of these bush beauties will soon begin to appear in our region.

Wax-lip Orchid

The stunning Wax-lip is often an early arrival and some orchid watchers call the species a harbinger of spring. The species is well represented in Gippsland, usually in drier, grassy woodland areas. It can be locally common, often existing in large colonies of hundreds of plants. The normally single blue flower can grow to a height of 20-30cm sometimes and, very rarely, you might come across one that is completely white. Bunyip State Park, Sweetwater Creek Nature Conservation Reserve and Westernport Woodlands are good nearby places to see Wax-lip Orchids.

Beard Orchid

It is believed that Beard-orchids use a scent and some visual trickery to attract male wasps of the scoliid family. When the wasp lands on the bearded tongue of the orchid, small pollen packets are deposited onto the insect which then flies to the next plant, thus ensuring cross pollination and genetic diversity of the species. There’re probably 4 or 5 varieties of Beard-orchid that grow in Gippsland. Nangara Reserve at Jindivick, Labertouche and Bunyip State Park are good nearby spots to see Beard Orchids which generally only like to open on warm and humid days.

Sun-orchid

Like the Beard-orchids, Sun-orchids are reluctant to open fully unless the weather is warm and humid, giving rise to the popular common name to this large genus of orchid. There is probably a couple of dozen species of Sun-orchid that grow in Gippsland. They can be found from the coastal heathlands of Wilson’s Promontory to the sub-alpine forests of the Baw Baw Plateau. Most Sun-orchids will have multiple flowers on their stems. Some will grow to be a metre tall. Most Sun-orchids are endemic to Australia and some species readily hybridize.

Spider-orchids

This is a large and complex group of orchids that are often tricky to correctly identify. They are very showy and delicate and grow in a variety of habitats. Coastal woodlands and heathlands, foothill forests and grassy plains are the best spots to find these beauties. The flowering of many species of Spider-orchids is dependent on, or at least greatly enhanced by fire.

Duck-orchid

No prizes for guessing how this orchid got its name. Duck-orchids trap their pollinating insect when it ventures into the throat of the flower. The hood closes and as the insect struggles for release it collects and deposits pollen. Like many of Australia’s orchid species, Duck-orchids are very difficult to propagate, making their survival in the wild all the more precious and worthy of the highest order of protection. ‘Ducks’ can grow in a variety of soil types, mostly in open woodland and heathland and mostly at lower altitudes – Westernport, Gippsland Plains and foothills.

 

Very little attention seems to be paid to the conservation of Victoria’s orchids. About half of Victoria’s estimated 3-400 species of terrestrial orchids are in decline or under threat. We need to do more.