Silver Dory

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. Haven't seen this beautiful natural hybrid here before #orchids

Black-hooded sun orchid (Thelymitra atronitida) near Mallacoota, E. Gippsland, VIC. This uncommon species tends to be very shy to flower -usually only see 1 or 2 flowers open briefly on warm/humid mornings. A nice patch of plants here 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. Flowers are very small - standard Aussie fly included for scale. Grows here alongside a more robust form of M. parviflora (slender onion orchid) #orchids #ozplants

Crested sun orchid (Thelymitra × irregularis) west of Mallacoota, E. 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 #orchids #ozplants

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

Nice variations in some of the later sun orchids with spots west of Mallacoota, VIC. I'm going 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 be T. juncifolia or hybrids #orchids

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. 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 dry spring affected most other local plants #orchids #cymbidium

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

@Florida_Spaces That's interesting ... the Microtis are called onion orchid because they have a single long cylindrical leaf a bit like an onion seedling. Why are the Encyclia called onion orchids - leaves? Or something else like pseudo bulbs?

@thesilverdory Beautiful! Thank you for sharing. Very interesting how common names change reference in different parts of the world. The onion orchid in Florida is an epiphyte better known as the Florida butterfly, Encyclia tampensis.

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

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 behind the house are usually the the first ones out most years #Orchids #OzPlants

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

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. 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), Genoa River, VIC. This beautiful naturally occurring hybrid is thought to be a cross between T. ixioides x T. carnea (both grow nearby). Regarded as rare in VIC but managed to see 1-2 out 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. These two small sun orchids combine to form some interesting hybrids at this location but I didn't see any out this year #orchids

Small pink Caladenia orchid variations near the Mongarlowe River, Monga, NSW. Some interesting variations in flower colour + 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 #orchids

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) than more typical coastal forms. Flower colour + shape is also very variable #orchids #ozplants

Purple Beard Orchid (Calochilus robertsonii) near Gipsy Point, 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