Glen Ryan

Interesting form of Thelymitra × irregularis (crested sun orchid) near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Interesting form of Thelymitra × irregularis (crested sun orchid) near Karbeethong, East Gippsland, VIC.

Only one roadside plant out at this location with fewer spots and richer colours than other nearby populations.I haven't seen this beautiful natural hybrid here before.

#orchids #inthefield

Black-hooded sun orchid (Thelymitra atronitida) near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Black-hooded sun orchid (Thelymitra atronitida) near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. This uncommon species tends to be very shy to flower - usually only see one or two flowers open briefly on warm/humid mornings. A nice patch of plants at this location but only one flower open. #orchids #inthefield

Microtis unifolia (common onion orchid) growing amongst the sun orchids at the back of the house, Corunna, NSW.

Microtis unifolia (common onion orchid) growing amongst the sun orchids at the back of the house, Corunna, NSW. Flowers are very small - standard Aussie fly included for scale. Grows here alongside a robust form of M. parviflora (slender onion orchid) which has much longer flowering stems #orchids

Crested sun orchid (Thelymitra × irregularis) west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Crested sun orchid (Thelymitra × irregularis) west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. Slightly different form of this beautiful naturally occurring hybrid (thought to be a cross between T. ixioides x T. carnea) compared to plants growing further west near Genoa. Only a couple of plants out #orchids

Large duck orchid (Caleana major) west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC

Double ducks west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. Didn't see a lot of large duck orchids (Caleana major) on my couple of brief East Gippsland trips this year but did see scattered plants in full flight at a couple of locations. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

Some nice variations in the some of the later sun orchids with spots west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Nice variations in the some of the later sun orchids with spots west of Mallacoota, VIC. I've decided to go with sun orchids with spots rather than spotted sun orchid (Thelymitra ixioides) as there are maybe just as many plants at this location that could also be T. juncifolia - or hybrids #orchids

Probably the best purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) I saw this spring near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC.

Probably the best purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) I saw this spring near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC. I only made it down for a brief visit at the start of November this year so a lot of plants were not out in full flower when I was there. #Orchids #OzPlants #InTheField

Cymbidium sauve (Grass-leaf Cymbidium / snake orchid) in the rain at Corunna, NSW.

Cymbidium sauve (Grass-leaf Cymbidium / snake orchid) in the rain at Corunna, NSW.

Cymbidium sauve (Grass-leaf Cymbidium / snake orchid) in the rain at Corunna, NSW.

Cymbidium sauve (Grass-leaf Cymbidium / snake orchid) in the rain at Corunna, NSW. After what looked like a goodish start to the flowering season only one plant on the road in actually made it to full-flowering - the very dry spring affected most other plants around the property. #orchids #cymbidium

Sun orchid (Thelymitra) variations growing close together on the edge of Croajingolong NP, VIC.

Sun orchid (Thelymitra) variations growing close together on the edge of Croajingolong NP, VIC. Thelymitra ixioides (spotted sun orchid) are common nearby but in open grassland some smaller-flowering forms are maybe closer to the very similar Thelymitra juncifolia (rush-leaf sun orchid) #orchids

Rosy hyacinth orchids (Dipodium roseum) out in the light rain at Corunna, NSW.

Rosy hyacinth orchids (Dipodium roseum) out in the light rain at Corunna, NSW. Dipodium are the most visible summer orchids around Corunna with 3 x species growing locally. This patch of D. roseum next to the track behind the house are usually the the first ones out most years #Orchids #OzPlants

Thelymitra atronitida (black-hooded sun orchid) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC.

Thelymitra atronitida (black-hooded sun orchid) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC. Flowers only open briefly on warm humid mornings and then close before midday. Usually starts to flower at this location just as the other local sun orchids have finished - only saw 1 plant this year #orchids

Roadside onion orchids (Microtis sp.) near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC.

Roadside onion orchids (Microtis sp.) near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC. Maybe M. parviflora although some recent reclassifications split this widespread species into 3 x species in VIC. Tip of little finger here for scale - individual flowers are very small! #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

Nice pink form of Thelymitra ixioides (spotted sun orchid) near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Nice pink form of Thelymitra ixioides (spotted sun orchid) near Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. Have seen one or two pink forms at this location in past years but haven't seen them every spring. #Orchids #OzPlants #InTheField

Purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) and Trigger plants (Stylidium sp.) on the edge of Croajingalong National Park, East Gippsland, VIC.

Purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) and Trigger plants (Stylidium sp.) on the edge of Croajingalong National Park, East Gippsland, VIC. Most of the trigger plants out here were this very attractive pale-flowering form with tall flower spikes.
#Orchids #Stylidium #InTheField

Thelymitra × irregularis (crested sun orchid) near the Genoa River, VIC. This beautiful naturally occurring hybrid is thought to be a cross between T. ixioides x T. carnea.

Thelymitra × irregularis (crested sun orchid) near the Genoa River, VIC. This beautiful naturally occurring hybrid is thought to be a cross between T. ixioides x T. carnea (which both grow nearby). Regarded as rare in VIC but managed to see plants flowering at several locations this spring #orchids

Slender sun orchid (Thelymitra pauciflora) and pink sun orchid (Thelymitra carnea) flowering close together near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC.

Slender sun orchid (Thelymitra pauciflora) and pink sun orchid (Thelymitra carnea) flowering close together near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC. These two small sun orchids combine to form some interesting hybrids at this location but I didn't see any out this year on my quick visit #orchids

Small pink Caladenia orchid variations near the Mongarlowe River, Monga, NSW.

Small pink Caladenia orchid variations near the Mongarlowe River, Monga, NSW. Some interesting variations in flower colour and size in roadside plants on the edge of tall forest. Most plants here are prob closer to C. carnea although C. fuscata is more common to the north around Mongarlowe #orchids

Hiya there - thanks for touching base. At the moment I'm not doing FB at all as the commercial rights package in play for my stock images has the FB option held by a third party. So I can't provide FB options at the moment. This will be reviewed again shortly and may change. I'll let you know. Glen

Thelymitra ixioides (spotted sun orchid) variations growing side by side in open grassland near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC.

Thelymitra ixioides (spotted sun orchid) variations growing side by side in open grassland near the Genoa River, VIC. Most spotted suns here have smaller flowers (+ fewer flowers / plant on shorter stems) than more typical coastal forms. Flower colour + shape is also very variable #orchids #ozplants

Purple Beard Orchid (Calochilus robertsonii) near Gipsy Point, East Gippsland, VIC.

Purple Beard Orchid (Calochilus robertsonii) near Gipsy Point, East Gippsland, VIC. The flowers are fairly small at this location but they generally feature some of the bushiest beards of the local Calochilus. Only saw the one plant out this year in a dry spring #Orchids #OzPlants #InTheField

Tailed leek orchid (Prasophyllum appendiculatum) near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC.

Tailed leek orchid (Prasophyllum appendiculatum) near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC. Only found the two plants out here this year which may have been a result of a dry spring - or me only having a quick look a week or so earlier than I usually drop by ;) #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

Pink sun orchids (Thelymitra carnea) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC.

Pink sun orchids (Thelymitra carnea) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC. Quite a common species around Genoa in both heathland and open grassland - often combining with other blue-flowering sun orchids growing nearby to form interesting hybrids. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

Spotted sun orchids (Thelymitra ixioides) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC.

Spotted sun orchids (Thelymitra ixioides) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC. Most spotted suns at this location have fewer smaller flowers than these more robust plants (which are a bit closer to the typical coastal forms growing around Mallacoota to the east). #Orchids #OzPlants #InTheField

Trigger plants (Stylidium sp.) and some of the smaller locals dining out on the local vegetation in open grassland near Gipsy Point, East Gippsland, VIC

Trigger plants (Stylidium sp.) and some of the smaller locals dining out on the local vegetation in open grassland near Gipsy Point, East Gippsland, VIC. #inthefield #ozplants #spring #beetles

Slender sun orchids (Thelymitra pauciflora) near Gipsy Point, East Gippsland, VIC.

Slender sun orchids (Thelymitra pauciflora) near Gipsy Point, East Gippsland, VIC. As with other nearby populations of this diminutive sun orchid flower colour can vary a bit between light blue and slightly pink. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

Early morning purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC.

Early morning purple donkey orchids (Diuris punctata) near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC.

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 #inthefield #ozplants

Sun orchid (Thelymitra) near Genoa, VIC - probably a hybrid between T. ixioides x T.pauciflora (both flowering nearby).

Sun orchid (Thelymitra) near Genoa, VIC - probably a hybrid between T. ixioides x T.pauciflora (both flowering nearby). Similar hybrids are known as Thelymitra × truncata in SA, VIC, NSW, TAS but this name has also been applied to a wide range of hybrids involving 5 different species #orchids

Pink forms of Caladenia alata (fairy fingers) north of Mallacoota, VIC - spring orchids 2025.

Pink forms of Caladenia alata (fairy fingers) north of Mallacoota, VIC. All of the plants in this small patch have the same pink flowers -while all of the plants in more open heathland nearby are the more typical white-flowering forms of this delicate orchid. These pink forms may be hybrids #orchids

Marsh sun orchids (Thelymitra longiloba) on the edge of Croajingolong National Park, East Gippsland, VIC

Marsh sun orchids (Thelymitra longiloba) on the edge of Croajingolong National Park, East Gippsland, VIC. This is the first time I've seen this species - although I have seen a single plant of the similar Thelymitra improcera just nearby in the past. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

No probs - I try to get down to Genoa / Mallacoota at least a couple of times a month in spring and always find something interesting I haven't seen before! Well worth the 5 hour round trip :)