In 2021 I had an amazing experience when exploring North Yilliminning Nature Reserve. There were thousands of cowslip orchids flowering and I discovered fifty cowslip/little pink fairy orchid hybrids (Caladenia flava subsp flava x Caladenia reptans subsp reptans). The reserve is a hybrid hotspot, which occurs when a lot of one parent flowers (cowslip orchid) are intermixed with a few of the other parent (little pink fairy orchid). In contrast, Foxes Lair has only two hybrids but they are not uncommon in in other reserves, including Claypit Nature Reserve.
Note. Strong regrowth after fire in 2022 has suppressed orchid flowering in in parts of North Yilliminning Nature Reserve.
Apparently orchid hybridisation has become more common since the introduction of European honeybees.
Orchid hybrids tend to be more common in spots where there are lots of one parent and fewer of another. Generally cowslip orchids greatly outnumber little pink fairy orchids, and normally flower for much longer. I noticed that hybrids are much more common on shallow sandy gravel soils, which hold less water than deep sands and sands over clay. I suspect that hybidisation is enhanced by periodic water shortages. which reduce the flowering period in these soils. In drier seasons, the flowering period for the cowslips on these soils is shortened to that of earlier flowering little pink fairies. Here pollinators are more likely to visit both species together and create hybids.
Hybrids are generally sterile, but expand asexually from root tubers into clumps.
Note. Strong regrowth after fire in 2022 has suppressed orchid flowering in in parts of North Yilliminning Nature Reserve.
Apparently orchid hybridisation has become more common since the introduction of European honeybees.
Orchid hybrids tend to be more common in spots where there are lots of one parent and fewer of another. Generally cowslip orchids greatly outnumber little pink fairy orchids, and normally flower for much longer. I noticed that hybrids are much more common on shallow sandy gravel soils, which hold less water than deep sands and sands over clay. I suspect that hybidisation is enhanced by periodic water shortages. which reduce the flowering period in these soils. In drier seasons, the flowering period for the cowslips on these soils is shortened to that of earlier flowering little pink fairies. Here pollinators are more likely to visit both species together and create hybids.
Hybrids are generally sterile, but expand asexually from root tubers into clumps.
 Little pink fairy orchid |  Column and labellum features |  Cowslip orchid |
I arranged over 50 images in this Google Photos album. Notice that every plant is different, often in subtle ways. Differences included flower colour and intensity, colour pattern such as stripes, dots and on tips, and intermixing of column and labellum features from each species . It is a great visual illustration of the complex mixing of genes in offspring of two parents.
Images below show a range of colours and shapes
Images below show a range of colours and shapes
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