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 the 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. Not found in Foxes Lair.The Common Bunny Orchid (Eriochilis dilatatus subsp multiflorus) has been seen annnualy on mainly gravel soils, but Alan Kerrigan noted that the crinkle-leafed variant (subsp undulates) is also common. This has less flowers per stalk and a crinkled rather than smooth leaf, but there are also slight differences in petal shape and orientation Hare and bunny orchids flower more after fire.
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 the 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. Not found in Foxes Lair.The Common Bunny Orchid (Eriochilis dilatatus subsp multiflorus) has been seen annnualy on mainly gravel soils, but Alan Kerrigan noted that the crinkle-leafed variant (subsp undulates) is also common. This has less flowers per stalk and a crinkled rather than smooth leaf, but there are also slight differences in petal shape and orientation 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 |
