| Greetings fellow Foxies, The only thing the first three orchids have in common is that they are named after introduced pests and rabbit-eared petals. I was excited to find my first Hare Orchid (Leporella fimbriata) at Highbury reserve. With bunny orchids they are the first orchids of the season around here and both are tiny. The Hare Orchid is pollinated by a male flying ant that attempts to mate with the column of the flower. In Foxes Lair there is a small colony on pale sand near the Claypit Trail.The Common Bunny Orchid (Eriochilis dilatatus subsp multiflorus) has been seen annually on mainly gravel soils, but the crinkle-leafed variant (subsp undulates) is also common on moister soils such as the Claypit. This has a crinkled rather than smooth leaf. Hare and bunny orchids flower more after fire. |  |
 Hare Orchid |  Common Bunny Orchid |  Crinkle-leaved subspecies |
In contrast, in 30 odd years here I have only seen the Rabbit Orchid (Leptoceras menziesii) flower once in September after the 2009 fire in two patches on the Granite Walk.
The Red Beak Orchid (Burnettia nigricans) also only flowered that year near the caravan park entrance. Otherwise both species occur as small and large heart leaves respectively on the ground. The prominently fringed Red Beak labellum acts as a pathway for small native bees that go down to the base for nectar and pollinate the flower. Rabbit Orchids also use a nectar reward for native bees.
The Red Beak Orchid (Burnettia nigricans) also only flowered that year near the caravan park entrance. Otherwise both species occur as small and large heart leaves respectively on the ground. The prominently fringed Red Beak labellum acts as a pathway for small native bees that go down to the base for nectar and pollinate the flower. Rabbit Orchids also use a nectar reward for native bees.
 Rabbit Orchid |  Red Beaks |