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.
The flowers of Dipodium stenochilum are somewhat pale and less colourful than Dipodium from down south, but the pink labellum is gorgeous.
Most Dipodium stenochilum plants I found were rather short, but this particular one was taller than waist height. Most of the flowers seem to be destroyed by insect herbivores soon after they finish flowering.
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.
The sickle orchid, Pecteilis ochroleucra, flowering in lush woodland on Galiwin’ku. This orchid is very common in woodland January and February!
The Pecteilis elongatus growing in grassy woodland. We only saw this species along one track, whereas the P. ochroleucra was very common in a number of places.
The long wispy segments of the Pecteilis elongatus are super cool.
Close up detail of the Pecteilis ochroleucra.
Close up detail of the Pecteilis elongatus.