How time flies! Looking at my blog, I realise I didn’t even manage a single post for 2021 and its already well into 2022. Perhaps it is because I saw very few orchids last year, or perhaps I was off doing better things…
These photos of tropical orchids were taken on Yolŋu Country in Galiwin’ku (Elcho Island) in north-east Arnhem Land. Much of north-east Arnhem Land is Yolŋu Country, and Galiwin’ku is very much a Yolŋu community first and foremost. My partner has been working here for the last few years for a Yolŋu corporation, and its been an amazing opportunity to live here over the last year or so.
There are many incredible things about living in Galiwin’ku and Arnhem Land more broadly, but unfortunately a diverse orchid flora is not one of them. So far, I’ve only seen three orchid species on Galiwin’ku, including the Dipodium and two Pecteilis species. The Pecteilis are more commonly known as Habenaria, but they were recently transferred to a new genus.
Still, it is always exciting to see new types of orchids, particularly ones that are probably less familiar than many of the southern Australian species. The Dipodium was flowering in early-mid December and the two Pecteilis were out in January-early February.