#thelymitra

Spotted sun orchid (Thelymitra ixioides) in coastal heathland, Jervis Bay NP, NSW. Most plants at this location have no spots at all which is not uncommon with coastal populations. This wide spread species is much less shy to flower than many other sun orchids - in this case they were still open in the afternoon on a cool, completely cloudy day.

Around Jervis Bay T. ixioides can often be seen flowering in early September (or even late August) - most plants here had either already completely finished or only had a few flowers remaining in mid-September. The plants I regularly see further south in East Gippsland don't usually even start to emerge until October.

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #JervisBay #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Sun orchid (Thelymitra sp.) and onion orchid (Microtis sp.) growing together on the edge of Corymbia maculata forest near Corunna, NSW (spring 2025).

This semi-cleared location is a local orchid 'hot-spot' (at least for Corunna!) with beard orchids (Calochilus) also found here in spring. However it is also on privately-owned land which has changed hands since last season and might be more developed this year. So hopefully any works there will not damage the orchids - which will already be battling the very dry local conditions this year!

#Orchids #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #SunOrchids #Thelymitra