Category: Monthly photo competition
South Australia’s Arachnorchis cardiochila
The following article, March Winning Photograph, is from Volume 44 no 4, May 2020 Native Orchid Society of South Australia Journal.
Pauline Myers’ Arachnorchis cardiochila was the winning picture. Synonyms for Arachnorchis cardiochila are Caladenia cardiochila, Phlebochilus cardiochilus and Caladenia tessellata. Common names include Heart Lipped Spider Orchid, Thick Lipped Spider Orchid, Fleshy Lipped Caladenia.
This species was named in 1886 by Professor Tate who presented it at the Royal Society of South australia at the October meeting. He did the original drawing.
The type specimen was collected at Golden Grove on October 2 1886 but it had also been collected much earlier (1865) at Barraba Scrub which is in the region of Mallalla.
Its fate in both these areas has not been good; it is extinct in Golden Grove and critically endangered in the region containing Barabba Scrub. Although, it is considered to be a reasonably common orchid throughout its range in South Australia, Victoria and Southern New South Wales, there are areas of concern as seen the Seedbank of South Australia map below.
It should be noted that though Caladenia tessallata is listed as a synonym that this was used incorrectly, as C. tessallata is a separate but similar species found in the eastern states. Its main difference from C. cardiochila is that the edge of the labellum (lip) is toothed, not smooth as seen in Pauline’s photo.
Diplodium robustum or Diplodium sp Adelaide Hills?
The following article has been adapted from the 2019 July Winning Photograph
The July competition resulted in a draw. This article will concentrate upon only one of the winner’s – Lisa Incoll’s photograph of a Diplodium sp. found in the Southern Lofty Ranges.
Sometimes images are sent through unnamed or with only the genus named as in the case of Lisa’s picture. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to determine the identity from only one photograph beyond the genus level. In this case it can be seen that it is a Pterostylis but since the introduction of a segregate genera it is possible to narrow it down further to Diplodium sp.
Since there are two main Diplodium found in the Adelaide Hills (D. robustum and D. sp Adelaide Hills), I thought it would be a good opportunity to compare these two species.
The phrase name D. sp Adelaide Hills is used to distinguish it from D. alatum (syn. Pterostylis alata) which is considered to be endemic to Tasmania. The mainland species P. striata was previously known as P. alata. The eFlora-SA, the Adelaide Herbarium online key and census of the SA Flora has D. sp Adelaide Hills listed as P. alata (syn D. alatum).
D. sp Adelaide Hills and D. robustum share many similar feeatures. In the dichotomous fey found on the eFlora-SA, the separation between the two is primarily based upon size. D. sp Adleaide Hills is generally a taller-stemmed plant with a smaller flower and smaller, more slender cauline leaves. D. robustum is mainly a larger flower on a shorter stem. However there is an overlap between D. robustum and small specimens of D. sp Adleaide Hills which can make determination of species difficult.
Based upon the descriptions and the key from eFlora-SA, Orchids of South Australia (1990) and South Australian Native Orchids (2011), the following table shows the similaritites and differences between the two species. For completeness, shared features (highlighted in bold) are also included.
| Diplodium robustum (syn. Pterostylis robusta) | Diplodium sp Adelaide Hills (syn. D. alatum, P. alata) | |
| Plant Height | 5-20cm tall (usually less than 10cm tall); robust stem | 8-25 cm tall; slender stem |
| Sterile plants | Yes | Yes |
| Leaves | 6 – 7 ovate or elliptic-ovate (ie range from oval to egg-shaped) leaves in rosettes on long petioles | 3 – 8 ovate leaves in small rosettes on long petioles |
| Leaf edges | Smooth | |
| Flowering Plants | No rosettes or basal leaves | No rosettes or basal leaves |
| Cauline Leaves | Alternating leaves clasping the base & increasing in size from the base upwards. Acuminate (long drawn out point) | Alternating leaves clasping the base & increasing in size from the base upwards. Acuminate |
| Broad (up to 8mm wide) lanceolate serrulate (tiny teeth) cauline leaves more than 3cm long | Slender lanceolate, cauline leaves less than 3cm long | |
| FLOWER | ||
| Blooms can last up to 8 weeks in sheltered places | Delicate flowers can soon collapse with strong drying winds | |
| Inflorescence | Singular flower | Singular flower |
| Colour | Bright green & white with deeper green, longitudinal stripes | Pale-green or white with darker striations |
| Galea | Erect; bulbous near the base | Erect; bulbous near the base |
| Length 25 – 45 mm; diameter more than 20 mm; gradually curved forward at the apex | Length 20 – 25 mm long; Diameter less than 18 mm; gradually incurved | |
| Dorsal Sepal | Ends in a long fine point to 5 mm long | Apex blunt; ends in a short fine point |
| Petals | Blunt | Blunt or acute |
| Lateral Sepals | Erect; conjoined basally; distally, the tips produced into long filiform erect points, embracing the galea & greatly exceeding it | Erect; conjoined basally; distally, the tips produced into long filiform erect points, embracing the galea & greatly exceeding it |
| Sinus (region where lateral sepals separate) | Flat, with a wide, shallow central v-notch; protruding in a shallow curve whenviewed from the side | Narrow sinus, with a notch in the middle; not bulging |
| Labellum | Movable claw; nearly straight | Movable claw; nearly straight |
| Dark green | Greenish | |
| Erect potition | Recaches height of the column | Slightly exceeding the height of the column |
| Column | Column erect | Column erect |
| Habitat | Forms small to extensive colonies | Forms small to extensive colonies |
| in rocky places; forest or scrublands | in rocky or shady locations; forest or forest heathlands | |
| Regions | Mt Lofty Ranges | Mt Lofty Ranges |
| Flinders Ranges; Eyre Peninsula; Yorke Pensinsula; Upper South East | Kangaroo Island; South East; possibly Eyre Peninsula | |
| Rainfall area | Greater than 250 mm | Greater than 600 mm |
| Flowering Time | May – September | May – July |
Of course, as these two hybridise, that will complicate things, Hybrids will have characteristics of both parents but, with hybrid vigour; and vigour is one of the separating features between the two!
References
http://flora.sa.gov.au/cgi-bin/speciesfacts_display.cgi?genus=Pterostylis&species=robusta Accessed 6 September 2019
http://flora.sa.gov.au/cgi-bin/speciesfacts_display.cgi?genus=Pterostylis&species=alata Accessed 6 September 2019
Bates RJ, 2011 South Australia’s Native Orchids, electronic
Bates RJ Weber JZ, 1990, Orchids of South Australia,
Caladenia plicata – April Winning Photograph
Shane Grave’s winning photograph for April was the spring flowering Caladenia plicata which is endemic to the South West of Western Australia.
Caladenia is a very large genus with over 330 species, 39 of these currently unnamed. In addition, there are 58 named subspecies and varieties. Caladenia plicata would belong under the subgenus Calonema or the segregate genus Arachnorchis which, although not generally recognised by State herbaria is commonly accepted by many amateur enthusiasts. Yet even this subdivision is still large with 192 species. As a result, some authors have created further groups/complexes, for example C. dilatata complex, C. longicauda complex, etc. However, according to Andrew Brown, C. plicata doesn’t seem to fit neatly into any of these categories, although David Jones does include it within the clubbed spider orchids.
Various authors consistently refer to the labellum as being unusual. In Fitzgerald’s formal description (1882) he states that the labellum tip is “recurved so as to become plicate and touch the under surface of the disc”. Plicate means to fold. The labellum tip of many other Arachnorchis species are known to curl under but none fold under in the way that this species does. The sharp fold with the spreading horizontal fringed margins (edges) combined with a central band of tall dense calli (wart-like structures) gives a distinctive shape reminiscence of a crab, hence the common name Crab Lipped Spider Orchid. The effect of this is best seen from a front, rather than a side, view.
The very mobile labellum is sufficient to identify this species, but it is also possible to identify when in bud “due to the prominent short osmophores (clubs) on the sepals”. The sepals narrow halfway along to form thick brown clubs and when the flower is open both the lateral sepals and petals are downswept. This is clearly seen in Shane’s photograph.
Finally, for those interested in pollination, it is pollinated by an undescribed male thynnine wasp of the genus Zeleboria. This has been captured on video https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0960982217306310-mmc6.mp4
Thank you to Andrew Brown for assisting me with this article.
References:
Brown A, et al, Field Guide to the Orchids of Western Australia 2013
Brown A, personal communication
Caladenia accessed 24 May 2019
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caladenia
Caladenia plicata Wikipedia accessed 24 May 2019
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caladenia_plicata
Haiyang Xu et al Complex Sexual Deception in an Orchid Is Achieved by Co-opting Two Independent Biosynthetic Pathways for Pollinator Attraction 2017
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982217306310
Jones DL, A Complete Guide to Native Orchids of Australia including the Island Territories 2006
Jones DL, et al, Australian Orchid Genera CD-ROM 2008 CSIRO accessed 24 May 2019
https://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/orchidkey/html/genera/Arachnorchis.htm
Pelloe, EH, West Australian Orchids 1930
http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks04/0400681h.html#page50
Orchids of South-West Australia website
http://chookman.id.au/wp_orchids/?page_id=2424
Corunastylis ciliata – 2019 March Winning Photograph
The winning photograph for March 2019, was Corunasylis ciliata (syn Genoplesium ciliatum). As with so many orchids, it has undergone a few name changes. Originally Prasophyllum, then Genoplesium and currently Corunastylis
Although Genoplesium was split into two with only one species remaining in Genoplesium and the others placed into Corunastylis, this split has not been accepted by the everyone. For example, eflora of SA and PlantNET use Genoplesium whilst VicFlora uses Corunastylis.
Whilst researching C. ciliatum I came across images of Prasophyllum spp. being misidentified as Corunastylis spp. and as it was originally described in Prasophyllum it seems appropriate to examine the similarities and differences between the two genera.
In South Australia (SA), the most obvious difference would appear to be size but across the rest of the country some Prasophyllum species potentially can be similar in size to the much smaller Corunastylis, although Corunastylis species are never as large as many of the Prasophyllum species.
Some of the shared features of the two genera are
- multi-flowered on a single stem
- single tubular leaf
- flowers non-resupinate, that is the labellum is above the column and the dorsal sepal is below (the only other non-resupinate flowered orchids in SA are Gastrodia, Caleana, including Paracaleana, and Cryptostylis subulata)
- Grow as scattered individuals
| Prasophyllum | Corunastylis | |
| Size | Tends to be a larger plant (up to 150cm), but can sometimes be as small as Corunastylis | Always a small plant (maximum no more than 90mm) |
| Leaf | Leaf sheaf opens well below the inflorescence (flower head) | Leaf sheaf opens at the base of the inflorescence. |
| Leaf | Often withered at flowering | Not withered at flowering |
| Labellum | Immobile | Mobile |
| Usually curved backwards (recurved) resulting in an upright appearance of the flower. | Not recurved resulting in a more drooping appearance of the flower | |
| Season | Mainly spring flowering | Mainly autumn flowering |
References:
Jones DL A Complete Guide to Native Orchids of Australia including the Island Territories 2006
Prasophyllum and Corunastylis descriptions from VicFlora, accessed 1 May 2029
https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/bbf0eb5e-fc8d-426b-9cac-58c384474e17
https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/91aa3829-ead8-407f-9db7-db2357ddb7e1
Bates R & Weber J Orchids of South Australia 1990
Jones DL, et al, Australian Orchid Genera CD-ROM 2008 CSIRO
Thank you to Greg Steenbeeke for reviewing the article.
Thelymitra malvina (Purple Tufted Sun-Orchid)
2019 Winning Photograph Competition
Welcome to our first competition for 2019. For February we had five entries which included Pauline Meyers’ Prasophyllum species from Western Australia, Lindy McCallum’s Glossodia major and Leptoceras menziesii, Lisa Incoll’s Thelymitra antennifera.
The winner was Rob Pauley’s photograph from the south east of Thelymitra malvina (Mauve Tufted Sun Orchid) which is found in only a few places in the South East but does occur in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and even ‘across the ditch’ in New Zealand where it is considered “an Australian species now established in the North Island”.
According to the Atlas of Living Australia, it is endangered in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania; of Least Concern in Queensland and there is no listing for New South Wales.
This species has been included in both the T. nuda and T. pauciflora complex for, as Jeanes has observed, it has characteristics of both complexes such as the smaller flowering forms are self-pollinating, and the larger flowering forms are insect pollinated
Though the common name, Mauve Tufted Sun Orchid, indicates that its most distinctive feature are the purple tufts on the post anther lobe, it is possible to find them with white tufts and there are other species that have purple tufts (eg in SA T. azure and T. occidentalis may have purple tufts but it is obvious from their other features that they are not at all similar to T. malvina). There are no other closely similar species in South Australia, but on the other hand, in the eastern states, it can be confused with Thelymitra atronitida, so it is worthwhile considering some of the main differences between these two.
Although there are no other closely similar species in SA, in the eastern states it can be confused with Thelymitra atronitida, so it is worthwhile considering the differences
| T. malvina | T atronitida | |
| Stem | 3 sterile bracts | 2 sterile bracts |
| Height | 25 – 75 cms | 30 – 50 cm |
| Flowers | Slightly larger (but can have smaller flowers) | Smaller flowers |
| Inflorescence | 3 – 25 usually loose | 2 – 8 ( – 16) |
| Column | Reddish to dark brown with yellow apex | Glossy black with yellow apex |
| Post anther lobe | Moplike tuft of pink or mauve (rarely white) trichomes | Moplike tuft of white trichomes (hairs) |
Across the country, there is some variations of flowering times with New South Wales having the longest flowering time from August to November and South Australia along with Tasmania having the shortest of October and November.
REFERENCES
Bates RJ, 2011 South Australia’s Native Orchids, electronic
Backhouse G, Bush Gems, A Guide to the Wild Orchids of Victoria, Australia, 2016, electronic
VicFlora, https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/0de4b1c5-3f1f-43ea-9464-c713a12d5758 Accessed 6 March 2019
VicFlora, https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/748b23b6-4779-4a93-89fc-8ec2a8b05a06 Accessed 6 March 2019
Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/NZOR-4-76548 Accessed 6 March 2019
New Zealand Native Orchids, https://www.nativeorchids.co.nz/Descriptions/Thelymitra_malvina.html Accessed 6 March 2019
Jeanes J, 2013 An overview of the Thelymitra nuda (Orchidaceae) complex in Australia including the description of six new species https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/documents/MuelleriaVol-31-p3-Jeanes-PDF-Accessibility.pdf Accessed 6 March 2019
Natural Value Atlas, https://www.naturalvaluesatlas.tas.gov.au/downloadattachment?id=14596 Accessed 6 March 2019
2018 August Winning Photograph
This month’s winner was Jenny Pauley’s photograph of a Corybas incurvus (syn Corysanthes incurva).
Before looking specifically at the species, it might well be worthwhile looking at the features that distinguish the Corysanthes (Toothed Helmet Orchid) group from Corybas (Spurred Helmet Orchid). The major difference appears to be in the flowers. The Corybas flower is dominated by the dorsal sepal which hides the labellum whereas with the Corysanthes the dorsal sepal and labellum are equally prominent although sometimes the dorsal sepal may be the less dominant. A less obvious difference occurs in the leaves. Corysanthes leaves have a fine point but this is absent in Corybas. Based on this only Corysanthes (Toothed Helmet Orchid) occurs in South Australia.
C. incurva, as part of the Corysanthes group, is interesting because the flower does not appear flared or toothed. But though the labellum curves in, it does initially start to flare, and it does have fine short teeth. In fact, in the early stages of the flower opening it can be possible to confuse it with the opening bud of C. diemenica. One of the differences between these two species is that the flower of C. incurva sits on the leaf with no clearly visible stem whilst C. diemenica is raised above the leaf with a visible stem.
This image of a typical Corybas from Colin Rowan, retiredaussie.com , helps to see the difference between Corysanthes and Corybas.
This image of C. diemenica (syn Corybas diemenicus) is a good comparison. Note the difference between the stems.
2018 July Winning Photograph
With two sun orchids entered this month it is not surprising that one of them should be the winner which was John Fennell’s Thelymitra azurea a lovely blue flower with hints of pink. The other sun orchid taken by Pauline Meyers was one of the lovely pinks, T. rubra. She also entered a picture of Pyrorchis nigricans with a spider quietly waiting for its next meal! The final entry from Trevor Williams was that of a double headed Diplodium robustum which he found at Spring Gully Conservation Park.
June 2018 Winning Photograph
An advantage of entering a photograph is that it does not need to be in season. This month John Fennell entered an autumn flowering Corunastylis fuscoviride and a late spring/early summer flowering Diuris sulpherea, Robert and Rosalie Lawrence both entered the winter flowering Diplodium robustum and the winning picture, John Badger’s Thelymitra epipactoides is an early spring flowering orchid.
Sun Orchids are another popular winner of the competitions and as there was a comprehensive article written on Thelymitra epipactiodes and as some have asked “what, actually, is a sun orchid?”, it is time to answer the general question about Sun Orchids.
Of all the Australian terrestrial orchids Thelymitra or Sun Orchid is the one that looks the least like an orchid as all the segments – the sepals and petals including the labellum – are very similar in appearance. They mimic the flowers of the Lilliaceae and Goodeniaceae families.
Nevertheless, it is an orchid as evidenced by the column. Columns are a unique feature of orchids. They are the combination of the reproductive organs into one structure. Between the different Thelymitra species, it is the column that is often the main distinguishing feature used in identification. Because, the column is quite detailed and so important in identification, we plan to feature this in future Journals.
Other general features of Thelymitra are single, non-hairy, mainly linear leaf (of course, there are always exceptions) with a single flower stem. Flowers range from being singular to having multiple flowers which come in a range of colours from yellow to pinks to blues. Despite the lack of nectar, most Thelymitra are bee pollinated but there are some that are self-pollinated. The pollinia instead of being yellow are white and it is not unusual to see the white pollen on the self-pollinating flowers.
Reference
Bates, R. J., ed. (2011). South Australian Native Orchids. Electronic version, 2011. NOSSA
Jones, D. L., A Complete Guide to Native Orchids of Australia Including the Island Territories. Reed New Holland
Jones, D. L.; Hopely, T; Duffy, S. M.; Richards, K. J.; Clements, M. A and Zhang X, Australian Orchid Genera an information and identification system. Electronic version, 2006, CSIRO
Thelymitra https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelymitra Accessed 4 July 2018
May 2018 Winning Photograph
One never knows what species will be entered each month – this month’s entries included Andrew Primer’s Eriochilus collinus, John Fennell’s Prasophyllum elatum, Marg Paech’s Pterostylis nutans and the winning picture, Pauline Meyer’s Arachnorchis sp. (which has subsequently been identified as Arachnorchis sp.)
In the last six years there have been over a dozen photo competition articles (the most recent April 2018) written on some aspects related to Spider Orchids. So, with another Spider Orchid winning the competition it is about time to answer the question – What Is A Spider Orchid?
Around the world, the common name Spider Orchid has been bestowed upon a number of orchids in different genera. In Australia, they have principally been applied to a large group within the genus Caladenia, a highly diverse cumbersome genus.
Caladenia in the broad sense is distinguished by erect flower stem and single linear, ovate to lanceolate leaf, (both hairy), labellum distinctly different from the other segments, generally fringed, curved and decorative calli. But within this genus it has been recognised for a long time that there are several distinct but varied groups, which has been reflected in the common names – Dragon, Pink Fingers, Hare, Spider, Wispy Spider, etc.
Consequently in 2001, several segregate genera were published including Arachnorchis for the common named Spider Orchids. This was not widely accepted, as reflected by the Herbaria of Australia. Indeed the original authors are no longer using the segregate names.
Yet despite all that, the segregate names have proved to be very practical for fieldwork. By using the segregate name when species is unknown, extra information is communicated. This was the case with Pauline’s picture. Yes she photographed a Caladenia but which one? It was an Arachnorchis species.
With that in mind, it is time to consider the features that make up a Spider Orchid or Arachnorchis.
In following through a dichotomous key Arachnorchis is immediately separated out from the rest of the Caladenia by the presence of two yellow waxy glands at the base of the column. As this is not the immediate feature seen, the following chart comparing it with the very similar looking Joneseopsis should assist with recognising some of the main distinguishing features.
| SPIDER ORCHIDS (ARACHNORCHIS) |
WISPY SPIDER OR DADDY LONG LEGS (JONESIOPSIS) |
|
| Leaf | Sparse to densely hairy Narrow to broad lanceolate Red base |
Sparsely hairy Slender Red base |
| Stem | Wiry densely hairy | Hairy wiry |
| Flower | ||
| Dorsal sepal | Erect | Erect |
| Tepals
(Petals & Sepals) |
Long & slender with long slender glandular tails or thickened short to long clubs*
Petals and sepals similar size |
Narrow, end in very long thin threadlike glandular tails* |
| Labellum | Trilobed obliquely erect lateral lobes Midlobe often differently coloured to the base |
Small indistinctly lobed
Narrow |
| Hinged | Hinged | |
| Apex | Rolled under at the apex | Rolls under* |
| Margins | Fringed with short to long teeth* | Short, blunt teeth to smooth |
| Calli | Vary from short rounded crowded to long curved and widely spaced | Short blunt congested lamina calli* |
| 2 or more rows | 2 rows* | |
| Basal Gland | 2 yellow at base of the column | None |
| Growth Habit | Loose groups* | Clumping |
*Exceptions in all these descriptions
Labelled Features of a Spider Orchid
Reference
Backhouse, G, (2018) Spider Orchids: The Genus Caladenia and Its Relatives in Australia ISBN: 978-0-9946489 Electronic version
Bates, R. J., ed. (2011). South Australian Native Orchids. Electronic version, 2011. NOSSA
Jones, D. L., A Complete Guide to Native Orchids of Australia Including the Island Territories. Reed New Holland
Jones, D. L.; Hopely, T; Duffy, S. M.; Richards, K. J.; Clements, M. A and Zhang X, Australian Orchid Genera an information and identification system. Electronic version, 2006, CSIRO
