Australia So Much to See
A
small white orchid with two prominent downward pointing petals resembling rabbit ears. Two tiny modified petals point outwards
like outstretched little arms. Several flowers on a stem, which has a small ovate broad based pointed leaf a short distance
up the stem from the ground, pointing outwards (above right).
April May
Bridgetown, South West region, Western Australia with
the Eriochilus dilatatus including all subspecies occurs from the coastal Gascoyne and Mid West regions, through the Wheatbelt, Perth,
South West, Great Southern, and along the south coastal areas of the Goldfields region.
Eriochilus helonomos, Swamp Bunny Orchid
A very tiny white orchid about four or five millimetres top to bottom, with two prominent downward pointing petals resembling rabbit ears and arm-like petals folded inwards. One or two flowers on a short stem, which has a small broad based pointed leave with a tinge of red in edges, a short distance up the stem from the ground, semi upright and hugging stem. Hairy appearance on flower and stem. The flower pictured above right appears to be opening
April May
Bridgetown,
South West region, Western Australia and occurs in a few scattered locations around Perth, to the north of Perth, close to the coast
in the South West and Great Southern regions, with a few sightings further inland.
Eremophila psilocalyx (formerly known as Eremophila pachyphylla) Poverty Bush
Pale mauve wide tubular flowers with smooth (hairless)
calyx and outside of flower. An upright shrub, with elongated flat leaves that terminate in a sharp point.
Spring
Lake
Grace, Wheatbelt, Western Australia and found in the Goldfields from Esperance to Kalgoorlie and in pats of the southern Wheatbelt.
Eremophila spectabilis subsp. brevis, Showy Emu Bush.
There are two subspecies of Eremophila spectabilis with Eremophila spectabilis subsp. spectabilis is
found mostly in the Meekatharra area.
Broad tubular mauve, pink or blue flowers. Pale green narrow leaves are elongated
to a pointed tip.
August
South of Leinster, Shire of Leonora, Goldfields, Western Australia. Found from Wiluna
to Menzies, in the eastern Mid West and the Goldfields regions.
Ericksonella saccharata 2004 (formerly Caladenia saccharata), Sugar orchid
A tiny white orchid one to two centimetres across,
with stiffly held petals, the lower ones being held out roughly parallel to the ground and the uppermost being upright, like a very
tiny chair. White petals are brown or maroon on the rear side. Column tip is green and rear of column brown or maroon. Labellum has yellow calli down the full length. Labellum lateral lobes either side of the labellum have purple markings. Leaf is narrow and concave, hairy on the rear side, as is the lower stem of the flower. One flower per stem, and can be found
in large colonies.
August
Low spreading small shrub growing to thirty centimetres tall and sixty centimetres wide. Leaves are alternate, hairy, succulent, a narrow oblong shaped, and up to one centimetre long. Tiny flowers are less than three millimetres across, solitary at the bases of the leaves, usually forming dense leafy spikes. Fruit is densely silky/woolly with five spine-like wings, and five lobed or divided spine-like erect appendages.
August
Lake Douglas, Kalgoorlie, Goldfields region, Western Australia, and occurs from the Gascoyne region, through the inland Mid West and Wheatbelt regions, through the Goldfields to the south coast. Mainly in semi-arid areas. Also found in other southern states.