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

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

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

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

Late flowering sun orchids with spots (Thelymitra ixioides / Thelymitra juncifolia) west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC.

Not sure if slightly different lobes on these plants are just a result of aging - or something different. Only saw one plant like this on the last trip.

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

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

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 - and this closed up as I photographed it just before noon.

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

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. As with several other populations I saw this spring there were only a couple of plants out at this location.

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

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

*I've decided to go with sun orchids with spots variations rather than spotted sun orchid (Thelymitra ixioides) variations as there are just as many plants at this location that could fall into a broad description of the very similar (and possibly the same species ... right lumpers?) Thelymitra juncifolia (rush-leaf sun orchid). Then there are the various hybrid combinations that might also be in play ...

I might try and work it all out at some stage but I think sun orchids with spots saves some time for now ;)

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

Sun orchid (Thelymitra) variations growing close together on the edge of Croajingolong National Park, 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 #OzPlants #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

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 one plant out here this year - the dry spring may have reduced the numbers of this later-flowering species, which is usually not common even in good seasons.

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

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 #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

Thelymitra × irregularis (crested sun orchid) near the Genoa River, 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 location. Regarded as rare in VIC but managed to see one or two plants flowering at several locations this spring.

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

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 of this exact combination out this year on my quick visit.

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

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

Most spotted suns here have smaller flowers (and fewer flowers per plant on shorter stems) than more typical coastal forms. Flower colour and shape is also very variable with almost no two flowers exactly the same.

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

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

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 #Biodiversity #Ecology #Botany #Photography #Spring #InTheField #Nature #BloomScrolling #EastGippsland #SunOrchids #Thelymitra

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. Most plants here have two or three buds but I've rarely seen more than one flower open completely at a time.

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

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

Similar hybrids are known as Thelymitra × truncata in SA, VIC, NSW, and TAS but this name has also been applied to a wide range of hybrids involving 5 different species.

I've only seen one of these orchids flowering at this location previously - only found one plant out again this year.

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

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. Always good to see a new species in an area you regularly visit :)

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