Australian native terrestrial orchids

[Stephen Vella]

Hi Paul,

will have to look up Les Nesbitt.

The local species is Thelymitra ixioides,dotted sun-orchid typically found in the open Eucalypt forests and Thelymitra venosa, the veined sun-orchid found in wet habitats, hanging swamps and bogs which is very unusual for this genus.

[Paul T]

Those aren't ones that I grow.  I grow T. pauciflora, T. nuda and another one I am not sure of the name of 100%.  Actually, I think I grow 4 but I can't recall the other one now.  

[Eric Locke]

Hi Paul and Steve

Many thanks for the info on Thelymitra. Sure this will help.
I have not tried these yet which is the reason I asked. I have just ordered Nuda and I might order more later. Several suppliers in the UK are selling these now, both species and hybrids ,although I understand one lost his stock during the past cold winter.

Eric

[cohan]

cool stuff here, for sure! hope to see more...
dry growing orchids are very interesting to me, as these are some that might fit in with a cactus and succulent collection!

[rob krejzl]

Stephen,

If you'd like to send me your address, I can send you a few T. pauciflora from the garden. There's a largish colony nearby, so I get seedlings popping up here and there. It would be nice to send them somewhere the flowers have a chance of opening.

[Ragged Robin]

Howdy All,

I thought there may have already been a topic for these, but if there is I am missing it.    If there is then feel free to combine this with the other one.

Flowering now for me as the first Aussie terrestrial to flower for 2009 is.....

Eriochilus cuculata.  A delightful little orchid with flowers maybe 1.5cm tall.  There are only a couple of flowers per stem, with a leaf or two at ground level.  Very cute, and a first flowering for me.

Paul, congratulations on you lovely little orchid - I know rather late in catching up but am looking forward to hearing more about these dry growing terrestrials and seeing more photos.

[Darren]

Thank you for starting this thread Paul. I adore the Australian native orchids and my first 'First' prize in the open section an SRGC show was for a Pterostylis. It got an RHS CCC too!

Just to encourage anyone in the UK thinking about growing these plants: I find them far easier than the european native orchids such as Ophrys. I grow them under frost-free glass in a mix of 80% perlite & 20% leafmould, though this changes occasionally as I experiment. Here are some Thelymitra flowers from this year:
 A lovely hybrid between T nuda and T crinita - those flowers are 7cm across on a stem of 45cm high.
T 'Sleeping Beauty' which has a beautiful scent of roses.
Another blue hybrid involving T cyanea
T cyanea proper
A mauve coloured hybrid whose name temporarily escapes me...

D.

[Paul T]

Darren,

Some lovely varieties in there.  I only have a few Thelymitras, all above ground and I think starting to bud at the moment.  Lots of Pterostylis and a couple of Diuris in flower here at the moment already, with more on the way. 

[Ragged Robin]

Lovely photos Darren, thanks for posting, I wish i could smell your T 'Sleeping Beauty' 

[Eric Locke]

Lovely photos Darren.

I have my first Thelymitra (Nuda) showing now and intend to purchase more if these do well for me.


Eric

[mark smyth]

Very tempting, Darren

[mark smyth]

How easy are they, Darren?

[Paul T]

Howdy All,

A couple of the Aussie terrestrials I have in flower at the moment.....

Pterostylis boormanii is rather different for a greenhood.  I just love the details in the flower.  Each flower is a bit over 2cm top to bottom.
Pterostylis mutica reminds me a lot of the Microtis unifolia when in flower, except this has a rosette of leaves at the bottom instead of that long tubular leaf on the Microtis.  Perfect little hooded flowers though.    The flowers are tiny, stacked one on top of the other up the stem, spiralling around the stem a little.

Please click on the pic for a larger version.

[mark smyth]

boormanii is very nice

A member of the AGS Ulster group has, by accident, grown Pterostylis outside. When moving house they were left outside

[Paul T]

Mark,

Some of them should be fine, providing they have a bit of overhead tree cover I would imagine.  We have wild species that grow in bushland around here.

I forgot to post another orchid in the previous posting..... Arachnorchis tencullata is one of the spider orchids.  Only just recently got it from a friend and I am stoked.  Stem is a bit snakey and it was very difficult to get it in a position where I could photograph the flower properly.  I should try again one of these days while the flower is still on there.  Very, very cool!    The flower is about 3cm wide.

Please click on the pic for a larger version.