Spring in the bush block has turned out to be very good for terrestrial orchids, and beard-orchids are showing in numbers at the moment. Two species are in flower, the Red Beard-orchid, Calochilus paludosus, and the Purple or Brown Beard-orchid, Calochilus platychilus. The latter was known as C. robertsonii but the Gippsland form is at the moment going under C. platychilus. More information is available in the excellent field guide Orchids of East Gippsland, published by the Bairnsdale and District Field Naturalists Club Inc. C. paludosus has two colour forms, red, and white, and both are very evident in the bush at the moment.
Calochilus paludosus, red form.
The white form.
Calochilus platychilus.
The Flying Ducks, Caleana major are also very numerous, and always good for a photo.
As the weather gradually warms, insect life is becoming more noticeable, and this Tau Emerald, Hemicordulia tau, one of the first species to appear, perched briefly beside a beard-orchid.
Click images to enlarge.