Whats Flowering: Tasmanian Orchids January 2022
Tasmanian orchids January 2022
Tasmanian orchid flowering slows down a lot during summer though there are some very interesting finds to be made. Generally the orchids on show this month are a bit less obvious and harder to find. Two notable exceptions are the Hyacinth orchid, (Dipodium roseum) and the Potato orchids (Gastrodia procure and sesamoids). Neither genera have leaves and extract all their nutrients from the soil via fungal association. The Potato orchids seem to like to seed in unlikely urban locations and I see them in the Tas uni garden beds as well as in pot plants at my own home.
The Hycinth orchid is also widespread around Hobart in many patches of dry bush.
Small and large Duck orchids – Caleana major and Paracaleana minor respectively, can still be found flowering in places such as PMR and around S Hobart foot trails
A few Green comb spider orchids (Cal dilatata) were showing near Kingston and the large tongue orchids (Cryptostylis subulate) were on display in the Huon Valley and reported at Sandford .
As the weather warms up, species at higher altitudes come into flower and Kunanyi comes into its own as a happy hunting ground for Greenhood species such as Pt decurva and dubia. I see these from around 600m and higher. The ruddy greenhood is also around in Jan and Feb at sea level.
At the highest altitudes, two fLeek orchidsare flowering – Prasophyllum species including alpinum and amoenum (which I haven’t seen yet). The veined sun orchid, Thelymitra cyanea flowers in an intense blue also around 1800m.
One of the highlights of the January flowering is the midge orchid, Corunastylis nudascapum. This growson the sides of walking tracks in the South Hobart area. In the next few weeks, C Tasmanica will make an appearance. you might alos see the Sharp midge if you are lucky. More reports are always available on the Tasmanian Orchids Facebook page
