Christmas Bells

Christmas Bells
Christmas Bells - Blandfordia nobilis
Showing posts with label Red_Rock_NR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Red_Rock_NR. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Pterostylis erecta located on Red Rock Nature Reserve

I have probably seen this species Pterostylis erecta before (I know Alan Stephenson has told me it occurs in certain localities I have visited previously) but this is the first time I have found it by myself and worked out that it is a different species from the commonly seen, and closely related, "Maroonhood"(Pterostylis pedunculata).

Unlike Pt. pedunculata this flower lacks a "fat bottom".
And its tip of the galea is gently pointing upwards
(hence the name "erecta").
Pterostylis erecta
Unlike the "Maroonhood" (Pt pedunculata)
this plant is dark brownish green

instead of really dark almost black on the front.
Pterostylis erecta
Pterostylis erecta
The lateral sepals (the little "arms" sticking up in the air)
are held close to the Galea (the hood).
Pterostylis erecta
 Note the cheeky little poking-out labellum tip.
(click on image to enlarge it).
Pterostylis erecta

The ever reliable Colin and Mischa Rowan, of RetiredAussies.com have a good page of photos of these plants photographed last year, at Nowra.
Have a look at their excellent images.
http://www.retiredaussies.com/ColinsHome%20Page/OrchidsNSW/Pterostylis/Pterostylis%20erecta%20NSW/Pterostylis%20erecta%20NSW.htm

Edit: 
I left in a bit of a hurry, earlier (rushed off to Trivia Night)
I gave you links, but it is better to see the two species on the one page.



Pterostylis pedunculata
 Note the dark reddish-brown (mahogany coloured) front.
Pterostylis pedunculata
Note the white back of the flower,.
and the contrasting mahogany-coloured front of the flower.
Also the "gap" where the lateral sepals arch forward,
before swinging back up to form the "points".
Pterostylis pedunculata
 This shows what I refer to the "fat bum" of this species.
It is noticeably broader than the narrower Pterostylis erecta.
Pterostylis pedunculata
When presented together like these, it is hard to imagine not being able to tell them apart.

But in the field, without the two species together (in other words, working off memory), it is not that easy. For the two species are very similar in form.
Worse, there is another species as well, which is regarded as being between these two.


Pterostylis oblonga - which I shall leave for another day.

Its all too hard (for me) let alone for you dear readers.

Sunday, January 08, 2012

Cryptostylis erecta (the Bonnet Orchid, or Tartan Orchid)

Cryptostylis erecta is a Tongue Orchid, but it is better known as the "Bonnet Orchid", or the "Tartan Orchid".
It tends to grow in coastal areas, but is known to occur in the Blue Mountains as well. But when I went out with Alan Stephenson the other day, to Leebold Hill (Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve) above Kangaroo Valley, I  said to Alan that I was hoping to find the Bonnet Orchid. It may occur in my immediate area of Robertson/Kangaloon/Fitzroy Falls, but I do not know of it growing there. Hence my interest in looking for it, on the wonderful high ridge above Cambewarra, and Kangaroo Valley. The habitat is similar to my local sandstone plateau areas, but it is warmer and wetter over there. The altitude is similar, but the Shoalhaven Valley region has a climate all of its own.

One can see why it earns both common names.
Bonnet Orchid, for the shape,
and Tartan Orchid for the colour and patterns.
Bonnet Orchid Cryptostylis erecta


Here it is, as I first found it.
It is growing in moist mossy soil, amongst grasses and rushes
over a shallow rock shelf (exposed rocks in background).
Bonnet Orchid Cryptostylis erecta

A closer view, to show the shape of the flowers.
Bonnet Orchid Cryptostylis erecta
Here is another close-up of the flower.
Add caption
It is appropriate to mention that this species is the main one featured in that Video I linked to last week, about "sexual deception" of Wasps by Orchids. Video by Macquarie University people (as named in the Video credits). That previous post was primarily about a related plant Cryptostylis subulata

And just for the record, the botanical illustration on the PlantNET site, for this species, Cryptostylis erecta actually illustrates the pollination process in detail.
Click on image to see in full size. 
Note the wasp pollinating the top-right flower, 
and the "reproductive organs" of the flower drawn in detail.

Botanical illustration for Cryptostylis erecta (courtesy of PlantNET)

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