Christmas Bells

Christmas Bells
Christmas Bells - Blandfordia nobilis

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Spring Orchids are starting to flower

These Orchids were flowering in Canberra last week.

This plant is Bunochilus umbrinus, a close relative of B. longifolius which grows commonly around Robertson.
To be honest I can barely tell the difference
between this flower and the local species.
There are minor differences in the texture of the hairs on the "labellum" of this plant and B. longifolius.
This is Petalochilus fuscatus (formerly Caladenia fuscata).
Here is a similar plant - viewed from the side.
Note the textured external surface of the upright dorsal sepal,
the banding on the back of the "column"
and the dull red top of the column - from which the plant gets its name "dusky"

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