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  Copper beard orchid (Calochilus campestris) near Mallacoota, VIC. Generally features some of the neatest facial hair of the local beard orchid species in East Gippsland. #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland

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  Marsh sun orchid (Thelymitra longiloba) in Croajingolong NP, East Gippsland, VIC. This plant has slightly wider petals and sepals than more typical 'star-like' flowering forms. Only found the one still out at this location where it can be easy to miss this species when they flower amongst a range of similar blue sun orchids. #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

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  Grevillea patulifolia in coastal heathland near Ulladulla, NSW. The closely related G. linearifolia also grows at this location - with some plants possible intergrades between the two species. These are probably the best looking G. patulifolia I've seen in terms of horticultural potential (and also the form with the palest flowers). Never really see any forms at all in nurseries - but I'd give one a go if I did! #Grevilleas #Proteaceae #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany...

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  South Pacific Heathland Reserve at Ulladulla NSW is a great spot to see an interesting range of coastal Proteaceae. In spring it's easy to spot (clockwise from top-left) Lambertia, Conospermum, Grevillea and Isopogon in flower on a short stroll around the cliff-top paths. There's also Banksia, Petrophile, Persoonia and Telopea (NSW Waratah) in the reserve - many at the very southern limit of their populations. Definitely worth a look if you're visiting or passing through...

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  Caladenia hillmanii (purple-heart fingers) near Hyams Beach, NSW. This is a good location to see this early spring-flowering orchid with some nice variations our from as early as late August. #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Caladenia #BloomScrolling #WildFlowers

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  Isopogon anemonifolius in coastal heathland near Vincentia NSW. Of the seven NSW Isopogon species this is the only one I ever see in nurseries down my way - and I don't even see it that often any more. All of the NSW Isopogons offer some potential as garden plants with interesting foliage, buds, flowers and cones. The 4 x larger/shrubbier forms all generally respond well to some pruning to shape and the 3 x shorter / spreading forms are potentially interesting rockery plants. Unfortuna...

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  Grevillea buxifolia (grey spider flower) flowering in the garden near Corunna, NSW. Another attractive sandstone species which is unfortunately not common in cultivation down my way (may be easier to find closer to Sydney or in Victorian native plant nurseries). Flowers are interesting (colour and shape) and the plant can be kept to fairly compact bush with some appropriate pruning. Doesn't tend to like heavier soils but has proven to be long-lived in less than ideal conditions at Coru...

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  Grevillea scortechinii (black grevillea) in the garden is coming into bloom after a hard prune over winter. This grafted plant is over 20 years old now and has formed a large mound. One of a handful of grevillea species with interesting 'black' flowers but unfortunately rarely if ever seen in nurseries down my way. #Grevilleas #InTheGarden #Gardening #OzPlants #Biodiversity #WildFlowers #Proteaceae #Bloomscrolling

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  First flowers are out for another season on the patch of sun orchids (Thelymitra sp. - somewhere in the T. pauciflora / T. peniculata mix) just behind my house at Corunna, NSW. This population suffered a little from unusual mowing and extra foot traffic this year resulting from the installation of a new roof on the house - but there's still a good scattering of flowering stems now up and a range of blue and pink flowers now out (if only very briefly!) on warmer days. #Orchids #OzPlant...

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  Prasophyllum brevilabre (Short-lip Leek-orchid) near Mallacoota, VIC. In many places this species is only seen after fires but at this location the odd plant appears from time to time even in non-fire affected seasons. #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #LeekOrchids #Prasophyllum

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  Thelymitra longiloba (marsh sun orchid) in open heathland near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC. A widespread species in VIC but highly localised and only known from small, disjunct populations. Was probably a bit late this year to see a lot of flowering at this location with only one still out while all other plants nearby had already finished. Flowers are only small - tip of my little finger included here for scale! #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheFiel...

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  Purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) starting to flower, East Gippsland, VIC. Mostly only single flowers out on this visit but plenty of buds still to open - and lots of flowering stems still developing. A fairly widespread species in VIC and NSW but generally uncommon and only found in disjunct populations (regarded as vulnerable in VIC due to habitat depletion). #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #Diuris

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  Spotted sun orchid (Thelymitra ixioides) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC. Only a handful of plants still in flower on this visit as a drier conditions may have slightly curtailed the flowering season. Most spotted suns at this location have fewer smaller flowers than this more typical plant (which is closer to coastal forms growing around Mallacoota to the east). #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland...

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  Purple Beard Orchid (Calochilus robertsonii) in Croajingolong NP, East Gippsland, VIC. Only the one plant out at this location - and only just starting to flower. This widespread beard orchid is fairly common across East Gippsland but I've only ever seen a couple of scattered plants at this spot (growing close to red beard orchids in open heathland). #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #BeardOrchids #...

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  Thelymitra pauciflora (slender sun orchid) variations near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC - pink and blue forms flowering next to each other. #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

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  Tailed leek orchid (Prasophyllum appendiculatum) in Croajingolong NP, East Gippsland, VIC. Regarded as endangered in VIC (rare in NSW) and often only seen after fires. But good early numbers out this spring despite the drier conditions. #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #LeekOrchid

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  Thelymitra × irregularis (crested sun orchid) in Croajingolong NP, East Gippsland, VIC. This beautiful naturally occurring hybrid is thought to be a cross between T. ixioides x T. carnea which both grow nearby at this spot - although both species had pretty much finished flowering on this visit. First time I've seen this orchid out at this location with three plants in flower. #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #E...

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  Spotted sun orchid (Thelymitra ixioides) near Hyam's Beach, NSW - another coastal location where most of the flowers have no spots. Flowering had already pretty much finished here in mid-September with only a handful of plants still out. #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #JervisBay #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

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  Grevillea macleayana flowering in coastal heathland near Ulladulla, NSW. These coastal plants (sometimes referred to as the 'Racecourse Creek' form) with mostly entire, elliptic leaves and a semi-prostrate habit when young offer a lot as garden plants but I'm not sure when I last saw one available in a nursery or native plant sale. G. macleayana was elevated to a species (from G. barklyana ssp. macleayana) in 1994. In 2022 two more species were separated from G. macleayana - G. gilm...

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  Caladenia hillmanii (purple-heart fingers) in open forest at Jervis Bay, NSW. Some variation in flower size, shape and colour at this location with some plants not having the distinctive maroon labellum side-lobes this species is known for. Generally regarded as a coastal species growing at altitudes of 0-200m but I've seen almost identical variations on a population of Caladenias in Monga NP at 700m altitude. #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InThe...

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  Grevillea calliantha (Foote's Grevillea) - grafted / garden (Corunna, SE NSW). Beautiful low-growing WA species with distinctive flowers featuring maroon/black styles. Flowers contrast well with greyish foliage. Grafted plants can do well in the east but unfortunately are rarely seen in general nurseries. Listed as endangered in the wild with limited populations near Cataby, WA - so definitely worth a go if you can find one at a specialty native nursery or rare plant sale. #Conservatio...

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  Sun orchids (Thelymitra) growing close together in open grassland west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. Sun orchids with spots (T. ixioides / T. juncifolia) growing alongside T. carnea and several different species in the T. pauciflora group can lead to some beautiful hybrids including T. x irregularis (top right). #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

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  It's been another poor year for the hyacinth orchids (Dipodium) at home in Corunna, NSW - with most of the small patch of Dipodium variegatum not making it to flower at all after a very dry spring. However in recent weeks several new short flower spikes have emerged much later than usual - although those that have started to flower only only have two or three flowers at most. So good to see some new plants in new locations - hopefully there will be more large spikes of flowers next se...

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  Late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variations near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC. Quite a few different variations still in flower here in more shaded spots with protection from harsh afternoon sun when more exposed plants have all finished. #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

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  Rosy hyacinth orchid (Dipodium roseum) still flowering at Christmas at Corunna, NSW. Only a few small scattered plants out this year at home with almost no meaningful spring rainfall and a dry start to summer. But quite a few larger flowering stems still out on the side of the road between Tilba and Narooma. #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #Dipodium

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  @bencourtice nice one !

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  A few more late-flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) variations near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. Only plants in part shade on the edge of the forest were still flowering in early November at this location - usually in slightly damper soils than the adjacent open grassland. #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

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  Microtis parviflora (slender onion orchid) growing amongst the sun orchids at the back of the house - Corunna, NSW. Grows here alongside Microtis unifolia (common onion orchid) which has shorter flowering stems with more crowded flowers at this location. #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #OnionOrchids #Microtis

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  Large duck orchid (Caleana major) and sun orchid with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC. Only made it down to East Gippsland on three mornings this spring / early-summer but still managed to see a good range of the regular locals (plus a couple of interesting new ones!) #Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra #Caleana

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  @nightdream@sfba.social the 'large' part of the name is slightly misleading as they are actually pretty small ;)