JOURNAL

of the
NATIVE ORCHID SOCIETY OF
SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC.

PRINT POST APPROVED VOLUME 21 NO. 8

PP 543662 / 00018 SEPTEMBER 1997
 NATIVE ORCHID SOCIETY
OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC.
PO Box 565,
UNLEY SA 5061
The Native Orchid Society of South Australia promotes the conservation of native orchids through cultivation of
native orchids, through preservation of naturally-occurring orchid plants and natural habitat.

Except with the documented official representation from the Management Committee of the native orchid
society of South Australia, no person is authorised to represent the society on any matter.

All native orchids are protected plants in the wild. Their collection without written Government permit is illegal.

PATRON: Mr T.R.N. Lothian

PRESIDENT: SECRETARY:

Mr George Nieuwenhoven Cathy Houston

Telephone: 8264 5825 Telephone: 8356 7356

VICE-PRESIDENT: TREASURER:

Mr Roy Hargreaves Mrs Iris Freeman

COMMITTEE: LIFE MEMBERS:

Mr J. Peace Mr R. Hargreaves
Mr D. Hirst Mr R. T. Robjohns
Mrs T. Bridle Mr L. Nesbitt
Mr D. Pettifor Mr D. Wells
Mr G Carne

EDITORS: REGISTRAR OF JUDGES:

Bob Bates & Kerry Jolly Mr L. Nesbitt 8261 1550
38 Portmarnock Street
Fairview Park 5126 FIELD TRIP COORDINATOR
Telephone: 8251 2443 Mr G Carne 8332 7730

JOURNAL COST: $1 PER ISSUE

The Native Orchid Society of South Australia Inc. while taking all care, take no responsibility for the loss, destruction or damage to any plants
whether at benchings, shows, exhibits or on the sales table or for any losses attributed to the use of any material published in this Journal or of
action taken on advice or views expressed by any member or invited speaker at any meeting or exhibition. Views and Opinions expressed by
authors of articles within this Journal do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Management Committee.

COPYRIGHT: The NOSSA Management Committee condones the reprint of any article within this Journal,
provided acknowledgement is given to the source and author.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: $14 FAMILY OR SINGLE. DUE IN MARCH EACH YEAR.

 71

NATIVE ORCHID SOCIETY

OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC

SEPTEMBER 1997 Vol. 21. No. 8 JOURNAL

SEPTEMBER MEETING

Tuesday, September 23rd at 8.00 pm: at St Matthews Hall, Bridge Street, Kensington. Past President Reg Shooter
will talk on the Culture of Aussie Dendrobium.

Doors to the hall will be open at 7.15 pm for those wishing to borrow books from the library or take in items for
the trading table.

PAGE CONTENTS AUTHOR

71 Diary Dates
72 On The Bench
73 Monarto Field Trip Thelma Bridle
74 Caladenia rigida Part 3 Doug Bickerton
76 From Your Library Geoff Edwards
77 Sarcochilus australis
80 Sandy Creek Excursion Thelma Bridle

DIARY DATES

Sep 19 - 21 N.O.S.S.A. Spring Show

Sep 29 NEDOS Show North Park Plaza
Sep 27 - 28 S.G.A.P. Show & Conference St Peters
Sept 28 Conservation Group Belair & Scott Creek
Oct 12 Conservation Group Kuitpo Monadenia control
Oct 26 Conservation Group Belair
Nov 30 Christmas Barbecue Hazelwood Park
April 19 Genoplesium lineare Special Halbury

COMMITTEE MEETING

To be held at 7.30 pm Monday September 29th at the home of Iris Freeman 18 Justina Place Surrey Downs
 72
See you at the Show ! St Peters Town Hall September 20-21.

ON THE BENCH
Terrestrials:
Acianthus pusillus, Caladenia latifolia, Caladenia reptans x latifolia, Caladenia stellata, Caladenia Fairy Floss,
Chiloglottis formicifera, Chiloglottis platyptera, Chiloglottis. trullata (from the type location), Chiloglottis
truncata, Corybas incurvus, Cyanicula deformis, Cyrtostylis huegelii, Diuris behrii, Diuris conspicillata
(Esperance), Diuris corymbosa (Bunbury), Diuris longifolia (Collie), Diuris palustris, Diuris pardina, Diuris
Pioneer, Glossodia minor, Lyperanthus suaveolens, Pterostylis concinna, Pterostylis cycnocephala, Pterostylis
curta, Pterostylis erecta, Pterostylis aff. longifolia,Pterostylis nutans,(normal, albino and variegated), Pterostylis
Bantam, Pterostylis baptistii x foliata, Pterostylis Nodding Grace, Pterostylis sp., Thelymitra nuda.

Epiphytes: Bulbophyllum sp., Dendrobium speciosum, Dendrobium Ellen, Dendrobium Glen Starr, D.
pedunculatum, D. Rutherford Surprise, D speciosum, Dockrillia teretifolia, D. Zeppelin, Sarcochilus falcatus,

There were many terrestrials on display for the first time including an undescribed member of the Pterostylis
longifolia complex from Tasmania which was almost l metre tall, the hybrid Pterostylis foliata x P. baptistii,
which is the first P. foliata hybrid we have seen, although it hardly seems useful to make such a drab cross, and
the Chiloglottis platyptera and Chiloglottis trullata. It was useful to see both Chiloglottis formicifera and C.
truncata together to see how distinctive they are. It was great that 10 different genera of terrestrials were on
display!

Bob Bates gave the commentary on the Terrestrials

George Nieuwenhoven gave the commentary on the Epiphytes

JUDGING

Terrestrial species
1st Pterostylis aff. longifolia grown by Thelma O'Neill.
2nd Diuris conspicillata grown by Jan Burford

Terrestrial hybrid
1st Caladenia Fairy Floss grown by Thelma O'Neill
2nd Caladenia stellata crossed? grown at Black Hill

Epiphyte species
1st Dockrillia teretifolia grown by Geoff Burford
2nd Dendrobium pedunculatum grown by Kevin Western

Epiphyte hybrid
1st Dendrobium Zeppelin grown by Gerald Hawkins
2nd Dendrobium Graham Hewitt grown by Gerald Hawkins

POPULAR VOTE

Best Terrestrial: Diuris conspicillata grown by Jan Burford

Best Epiphyte: Dockrillia teretifolia grown by Geoff Burford

 73
Plant Of The Night
Dockrillia teretjfolia

AUGUST MEETING - SPEAKER.

Foundation President Les Nesbitt who has been exhibiting at shows for nigh on 30 years ie at the Royal Show,
NEDOS and NOSSA shows as well as interstate demonstrated how to set up a table-top display: topics as various
as plastic or papier-mache rocks, hot-boxes, home-grown moss and tricking the judges were discussed. (See also
NOSSA Journal Aug 1996 for advice on setting up for shows.)

WANTED: ferns for the Spring Show: Black Hill is not able to supply ferns this year.

FIELD TRIP TO MONARTO CONSERVATION PARK 3/8/97 by Thelma Bridle

July 1997 proved to be a very dry month, with less than 1/5th of the average monthly rainfall. A group of 7
members met at Callington on August 8 to repeat a trip made at this time in 1996. This year we travelled through
clouds of dust to private land about 4km. south of Callington. The paddock was bone dry and had recently been
grazed by sheep. Bridal creeper withstands drought conditions but the only native plants not suffering were the
Lomandra, some of which had been grazed, but a number of which were in full flower. There were a few clumps
of Wurmbea dioica (early nancy) but no other native flowers.

Orchids were really suffering. Cyanicula deformis could not be found, Pterostylis cycnocephala and Diuris
palustris were only just budding. Cyrtostylis sp. were leaves only. Caladenia leaves found were largely yellowing
off and only a few had buds - possibly in drought conditions the orchid assures tuber survival by withdrawing
food after growing a leaf.

The track to the SW corner of Monarto Conservation Park was dry and easy to negotiate this year. Here in
Monarto there were mallee eucalypts in flower, attracting many birds. After lunch in the sun, we went walking in
the dry park. Caladenia and Cyrtostylis leaves and Pterostylis cycnocephala rosettes were prolific - far more than
in 1996 but only one P. cycnocephala was flowering. Many rosettes were yellowing off. Acianthus pusillus had a
few flowers in the shelter of a shrub. Pterostylis plumosa rosettes looked quite healthy. A very large colony of
Pterostylis, some with flowers already over caused some discussion for a while, before we concluded they were
Pterostylis dolichochila, which we hadn't seen in this area of the park before and which had flowered early. A few
scattered Eriochilus cucullatus leaves were noted, then a large colony of over 100 crowded leaves, but no
evidence of flowering could be found.

It must have been a particularly good year for Eriochilus as Phil and I have seen several large colonies where we
have not found plants in previous years. Where Thelymitra seedpods were still standing from last year, no leaves
had come up this season. Having visited 2 disappointing sites we resolutely drove around to the NE corner of
Monarto expecting very little difference. However, here we counted 14 different spring shrubs in flower or bud.
Of particular note were the many bushes of Baeckea crassifolia with flowers ranging from deep purple to almost
white. A few fungi were in evidence, indicating more moisture, including several Geastrum fenestriatum (earth
stars).

Our first orchid find was a number of Pterostylis sanguinea. Some at the base of a eucalypt were a foot tall with
up to a dozen flowers. Most others clumps were of a shorter variety with only 2-4 flowers. These ranged in colour
from almost black to a light red. There were a number of different Caladenia leaves, some with buds forming. C.
filamentosa var. tentaculata leaves were definitely identified. A number of Genoplesium sp., some nigricans and
some possibly rufum had finished flower spikes. Several clumps of Pterostylis dolichochila were located, mainly
with flowers finished and an occasional seedpod. (Observing these plants confirmed our earlier finding of P.
dolichochila). A few good flowers were found and photographed, but mainly the stems were thin and unable to
support the weight of
 74
the flower. In 1996 the P. dolichochila were in full flower at this time. Pterostylis nana were just beginning to
flower and large colonies of these were found. Very few orchid leaves had been chewed in great contrast to
previous years at Monarto, when rabbits have voraciously attacked both orchids and other plants. Their demise
could be a great advantage to orchid numbers in more arid areas. None of us had seen such large orchid colonies
in Monarto in the past. We saw a number of birds during the day and I was delighted and amazed to have seen a
White's thrush close-up when it landed briefly on a nearby shrub. Babblers, parrots and honeyeaters were
plentiful.

Orchids recorded
Acianthus pusillus b,c flowers Cyrtostylis sp. leaves
Caladenia sp. a,b,c leaves & buds Pyrorchis nigricans a leaves
Diuris palustris a bud Pterostylis sanguinea c flowers
Pterostylis cycnocephala a,b,c flowers b,c
Pterostylis dolichochila b,c flowers Genoplesium sp. c flowers over
Pterostylis nana c flowers Eriochilus cucullatus b leaves
Caladenia filamentosa var. tentaculata c leaves
Thelymitra sp. b seedpods Pterostylis plumosa b rosettes

a - Callington b - SW corner of Monarto CP c - NE corner of Monarto CP

WANTED Articles wanted for your journal, either on paper or on IBM computer disk. Especially on epiphytes or
field trip reports. We are also keen to get original art and photos suitable for photocopying.

A Pollination Study of the Endangered Orchid

Caladenia rigida - by Doug Bickerton

Part 3: Pollinators

The first two articles in this series focus on the primary concerns of my study; those of the benefits of hand
pollination, and the relevance of the number of orchids in a patch to a flower's chances of pollination. This article
deals with an incidental question :- What is (are) the pollinator(s) of Caladenia rigida? Although this issue is of
interest to me, the constraints of time meant that it was given less attention during my study.

In his 1984 "S.A. Naturalist" article, Bates writes that a native bee (Exoneura sp.) is the pollinator of C. rigida,
and in fact Bates & Weber (1990) includes a photograph of one such bee which has landed on a C. rigida flower.
The orchid offers no nectar or pollen reward and emits no detectable fragrance (Bates & Weber, 1990), and so it
has been presumed that the pollinator bee is young and inexperienced ("naive"). The flower has two glands at the
base of the column which were thought to be pseudo-pollen or the source of kairomones (pheromone imitations)
(Bates, 1984).

One aim of this study was to identify whether the orchid has more than one pollinating agent. Many Caladenias
are known to be pollinated by the pseudo-copulation behaviour of native wasps (Stoutamire, 1975, 1983; Bower,
1992). C. rigida is a member of the same species complex as C. reticulata, and generally this complex is
pollinated by Thynnid wasps. Such orchids usually exude kairomones from osmophores on the clubbed sepals.
However, no observations have been made of wasps pollinating C. rigida flowers. Five insects were caught and
later identified at the Adelaide Museum. One was a beetle and possible predator of C. rigida fruit (see Part 4 of
this series). Also caught were two native bees, an introduced honey bee, and a native wasp.

Observation details -

The first sighting was of an insect with the appearance of a native bee (it was not caught), landing on a C. rigida
flower. It climbed well inside the flower, and appeared to be attempting to reach the two "pseudo-glands" at the
base of the column. The labellum moved only slightly, and the insect did not seem
 75
troubled by it. Twice the insect flew away and returned to the same flower, once resting on the sepal, and once
climbing inside again. Finally it flew to another C. rigida, but I saw no pollen removed or deposited. However,
the first flower closed up within a week and was later shown to be successfully pollinated. Unfortunately the
second flower was damaged within a few days. Three days later, another bee (apparently native) was observed
inside a C. rigida flower. The insect remained deep inside the flower for over 10 minutes, as if trapped. No
attempt was made to catch it, for fear of damaging the flower. When this flower was inspected later, pollen had
been deposited, and this flower went on to fruit dehiscence. The first insect to be caught was a native bee
(Halictidae homalictus sp.) resting on a C. rigida sepal. It remained there for about five minutes, and did not
attempt to climb inside the flower. The flower remained open for 7 days, but was eaten soon afterwards. It is
unlikely that it was pollinated. The most interesting catch was of a male Thynnid wasp (a native). It had been
moving rapidly in a figure-eight motion for over ten minutes on one of the bags placed over a C. rigida flower.
The wasp would have been unable to enter the bag, and no insects were inside the bag. Its figure-eight movement
is typical of mating behaviour. The other two insects caught were visiting flowers of other species. One was a
honey bee (Apis mellifera), caught whilst visiting a Pultenaea largiflorens. These bees were seen visiting flowers
of various species. There was an abundance of honey bees at both sites, and one should not disregard the
suggestion put forward by Bates (1995) that feral bees are competing effectively with native bees for food, thus
causing the numbers of native bees to diminish, and populations of C. rigida to suffer as a result.

Sexual Deception - As already mentioned, wasps are particularly attracted to the Caladenia genus, through sexual
deception. The male Thynnid wasp which was caught during this study was exhibiting mating behaviour. The
females of this family are wingless (and therefore earth bound), and, attract the males by producing pheromones.
The males fly to the females, pick them up and copulate with them in flight. Whilst still coupled, they then fly to a
nectar producing flower, generally Leptospermum spp. (Wakefield 1954; Breeden & Breeden 1972; Stoutamire
1975), and Eucalyptus spp. (Stoutamire 1975; Ashton 1975; Matthews 1976) whereupon both wasps feed
(Armstrong, 1979). Since the study area is Eucalyptus woodland, with a prevalence of Leptospermum spp., this
site is well suited to Thynnid wasps. Additionally, since osmophores are present on the sepal tips, it would appear
that C. rigida employs sexual deception as a primary pollination tool. (NB. L. myrsinoides blooms in profusion in
this area, but usually only as the C. rigida season is drawing to a close. Thus, there would be fewer wasps about
when the orchid is in bloom. These early season wasps are more likely to be "naive" and more easily deceived.)

There is now evidence to suggest that C. rigida achieves pollination both by wasps and by bees. This augers well
for the orchid's future, since a species that has co-evolved with only one genus of pollinators is likely to have a
more unstable future. Furthermore, the orchid appears equally capable of good seed set from either self pollination
or cross pollination (see Part 1). Given these factors, the chances of reproductive success for C. rigida are
apparently favourable, but in spite of this, the orchid remains an endangered species. Will the answer to this
mystery be in the final issue of this series?

Armstrong, J.A. (1979). Biotic pollination mechanisms in the Australian flora - a review. N Z J. of Bot. 17, 467-
508.
Ashton, D.H. (1975). Studies of flowering behaviour in Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell. Aust. J of Bot. 23 (3), 399-
411.
Bates, R. (1984). Ecology and biology of Caladenia rigida (Orchidaceae). S.A. Naturalist 58, 56-59.
Bates, R. (1995). Recovery plan for white spider orchid Caladenia rigida R. Rogers. D.E.N.R, S.A.
Bates, R.J. & Weber, J.Z. (1990). "Orchids of South Australia". Govt. Printer, S.A. Bower, C. (1992). The use of
pollinators in the taxonomy of sexually deceptive orchids in the subtribe Caladeniinae (Orchidaceae). Orchadian
10,331-338.
Breeden, S. & Breeden, K. (1972). "Australia's South East. A Natural History of Australia: 2." Collins, Sydney.
Matthews, E.G. (1976) "Insect Ecology". Uni. of Qld. Press.
Stoutamire, W. (1975). Australian terrestrial orchids, Thynnine wasps, and pseudo-copulation. Orchadian 6, 110-
111.
 76
Stoutamire, W. (1983). Wasp-pollinated species of Caladenia (Orchidaceae) in South-western Australia. Aust. J
of Bot. 31, 383-394.
Wakefield, N.A. (1954). Notes on a Phynnid (sic) wasp. Vic. Naturalist 70 (2), 222.

FROM YOUR LIBRARY by Geoff Edwards, Librarian

Just four items to report this month but recognising that Roy has again given me a stack of material for the library
which, at the time of producing this article, I have not had time to sort out.

The two new items are;

Australian Orchid Review, June 1997.

A number of enjoyable articles, especially that featuring Sarcochilus ceciliae by Gerry Walsh. For those interested
in a wide cross section of plants, Walter T. Upton has a good article covering 'Orchid species in flower every
month of the year'. Many Aussie natives feature in the five tables that cover different growing situations in the
Sydney area. P.S. Lavarack has an article on Dendrobium luteocilium Rupp. The August/October 1996 new
orchid hybrid list is also included.

The Orchadian, Volume 12, Number 4. June 1997.

With a stunning cover featuring Dendrobium cuthbertsonii 'Orange Picotti' HCC/AOS 1997, the journal has its
usual wide cross section of articles and illustrations. Our own Bob Bates provides the lead article on Microns in
the 'Arid Lands' of Western Australia, while Roy Hargreaves (you can't keep him down or out of it!) provides the
History of the Native Orchid Society of South Australia. Two rare new species of Pterostylis and a new recording
of the Eastern Underground Orchid are reported on.

The two existing books that I have chosen come from the opposites;

It's Blue with Five Petals (Wildflowers of the Adelaide Region), written and illustrated by Ann Prescott.
Published 1988.

Many will remember when Ms Prescott attended a NOSSA meeting, spoke of her book and personally signed the
copy which is now in our library. Bob Bates and NOSSA provided information and material that made its way
into the text of this 400 page book which is an easy to use colour coded field guide with over 1000 wildflower
illustrations. The book is written for those who wish to keep it simple and is about flowers, their colours, their
textures, their smells and their shapes. It is designed to help people to enjoy the flowers they see in the bush. As
the author states in her introduction, "Please take this book to the flower, not the flower to the book".

Tropical Orchids of Australia by P.S. Lavarack and B. Gray. Published 1985.

As we know, orchids belong to one of the largest families of flowering plants. This book discusses about 230
species which grow in habitats as diverse as hot paper bark woodlands and cool misty rainforests. The known
facts and accepted theories on habitats, ecology, origins, conservation and taxonomy are drawn together. Many
new species (for that time) are fully described and illustrated in fine black and white plates.

First Aid Kit NOSSA now has a first aid kit which will be taken on official excursions. (Thanks to D. Pettifor who
organised the kit).
 77
SARCOCHILUS AUSTRALIS
Extracted from ANOS Geelong
Group Bulletin, February 1997

The Sarcochilus genus is almost

exclusively Australian, with 16
species being endemic and one
extending to New Guinea. Two
species grow in Victoria, S.
australis and S. falcatus. S.
australis grows as an epiphyte in
fern gullies and damp forests of
North Eastern NSW to East
Gippsland, the Otways and
Tasmania.

The dark green leaves have a

leathery appearance, several
growing from a short stem
which has many overlapping
leaf bases. Roots often extend
for over a metre along the host
tree. Usually about 12 flowers
grow on a pendulous raceme
during late spring through
summer. The distinctively
shaped flowers are scented,
coloured brownish green, a large
white labellum with reddish
stripes on the inside.

S. australis has proved impossible to maintain in cultivation, but has been used to produce attractive hybrids with
its characteristic shape, such as S. Jane using S.fitzgeraldii. With S. hartmanii it produces S. Southern Cross and
with S. Lois we have S. Otways. With S. Pinky, S. Penny Ann is produced, and with S. Melba, S. Olive Nymph.

NOSSA SUPPORT FOR THE AOF

A recent letter from Gerald McCraith AM, Director of the Australian Orchid Foundation thanks NOSSA for our
donation, (NOSSA supports the AOF with an annual donation) and for our support in many other ways. This
includes : sending seed for the seed-bank now run by Andrew Paget. Orchids collected in the wild and sent to
David Jones to assist in his research. Growing on tubers sent to David Jones for research. The AOF has supported
many South Australian projects over the years This includes: The R.S. Rogers Orchid House at Black Hill.
Research projects on taxonomy and orchid pollination. Conferences. Sending copies of research projects.

Gerald writes 'The Directors have pleasure in including the name of your Society in the HONOUR ROLL OF
CONTRIBUTORS and will keep you advised of the projects that are, and will be financed and undertaken by the
Foundation.'
 78
Chiloglottis The Ant Orchids

At the August meeting there were more species of Chiloglottis than most of us had ever seen before. Most of
these were superbly grown by Thelma
O'Neill from tubers sent by Helen
Richards in Melbourne.

In 1986 only five species of

Chiloglottis were recognised ie C.
gunnii, C. cornuta, C. trapeziformis, C.
reflexa and C. formicifera but following
the research of David Jones, Mark
Clements, Colin Bower and others there
are now considered to be over 30 taxa
in the genus! The South Australian ones
are C. trapeziformis from the South-
east and introduced in the Adelaide
Hills, C. cornuta (green form) from the
lower South-east and C. valida which
has been introduced near Glencoe and
is recorded from the Fleurieu Peninsula
perhaps in error. Very likely a C. aff
reflexa would have occurred in the
Mount Gambier area before settlement
as I have seen it in the Glenelg River
NP not far from the border.

Chiloglottis species are pollinated

exclusively by small male, thynnid,
wasps. These are attracted to the
flowers by wind- borne pheromones
similar to those given off by the female
wasps to attract males for mating.
These wasps attempt to mate with the
calli on the orchid labellum which in
some species bears a remarkable
resemblance to the female wasps
themselves. In its attempt to mate the
wasp may remove pollinia from the
flower and on repeating the act on other
flowers transfer the pollinia. The act is known as pseudocopulation and the orchids are said to exhibit sexual
deception.

It is thought that as many as 150 species of Australian orchid are pollinated this way. Chiloglottis reflexa is a
species that is currently under investigation. It is likely that none of the populations presently given this name are
true C. reflexa, a species originally collected in Tasmania. Continuing pollination studies will tell us more. The
story goes that the Type collection of C. reflexa had its labellum removed because the collector thought it was an
insect and might have eaten the flower! That certainly makes it hard for identification. Thanks to Thelma O'Neill
for this amusing illustration!
 79
CONSERVATION NEWS

Pterostylis arenicola: Things continue to look better for this orchid as an area on Poltalloch Station (Lake Albert)
where a large population of Pterostylis arenicola occurs is in the final stages of being placed under a Heritage
Agreement. (This information is from Birgitte Sorensen whose work with this species has ensured that not only
has the species been taken off the Endangered species list but that all known populations are thriving. Well done
Birgitte and the many NOSSA members who have assisted.)

EXCESSIVE OPTIMISM IN CONSERVATION

Recently we have heard how wonderful the release of rabbit calici-virus has been for orchid regeneration; but do
not be fooled, there are still rabbits in every part of South Australia, given a couple of good years they will breed
much faster than their predators eagles, foxes and cats which have also suffered a population crash. It doesn't
matter where you go in South Australia there is less orchid diversity than there was fifty years ago!

The fact that the 90's have had the most el Nino or dry years in any decade since rainfall records began indicate
that even climatic conditions no longer favour native orchids. Every year an average of ten new weeds take hold
in South Australia. Who would have predicted in 1980 that there would be 100 million Monadenia in South
Australia less than 20 years later! What weed will be next to replace our native orchids?

We are always hearing wonderful stories of goat control in South Australia but without a doubt wild goats are
increasing in range and number every year and droughts don't seem to worry them. The best chance for our
orchids will come with lower human-population-growth, improved attitudes and education and changed farming
practices away from intensive sheep and cattle grazing to farming kangaroos and emus, less use of herbicides and
chemical fertilisers and better pest animal and plant control.

NOSSA JOURNALS 1977-1986: YOUR LAST CHANCE TO OBTAIN THESE

Back copies of NOSSA journals for 1977-86 are to be cleared out. These are available as Volumes (11 issues per
year) at $5 each. Tables of contents for each year will be available for viewing at the September meeting.

After complete volumes have been sold (numbers are limited), individual back issues may be purchased at 20c
each. Please complete a request form and return to Thelma Bridle or any committee member. Volumes and Issues
will be available for collection with payment at the October general meeting.

Name:
Phone no.
I would be interested in purchasing the following VOLUMES of NOSSA journals at $5 each
Vol. 1 (1977) Vol. 6 (1982)
Vol. 2 (1978) Vol. 7 (1983)
Vol. 3 (1979) Vol. 8 (1984)
Vol. 4 (1980) Vol. 9 (1985)
Vol. 5 (1981) Vol. 10 (1986)

WISE WORDS FROM ROGER RANKINE

A verbal description of an orchid is not worth the paper it is written on.

A person is expanding his orchid collection too fast if he flowers a new orchid before he can pronounce its name!

You are on the road to success when you realise that failing to flower this year gives a plant a better chance to
build up for next year.
 80
FIELD TRIP REPORT- SANDY CREEK CONSERVATION PARK 10/8/97
by Thelma Bridle

A large group of orchid enthusiasts met on the

sunny morning of Aug: 10th for a walk in
Sandy Creek Conservation Park. Rain during
the week had encouraged a carpeting of green
moss. A number of shrubs were in flower -
Hibbertia stricta, Astroloma conostephioides,
Hybanthus floribundus and Cryptandra
tomentosa particularly striking. Acacia sp.
were beginning to flower and a number of
birds were feeding in the bushes. Despite the
warmth few Drosera whittakeri flowers were
fully open although the D. auriculata were
flowering freely.

There were Caladenia latifolia leaves just by

the entrance and Pyrorchis nigricans leaves
throughout the park in the sandy soil, although
we did not find any flower buds. Pterostylis
sanguinea were of both the tall forest variety
with 6-10 flowers and the shorter form with
only a couple of flowers. Cyanicula deformis
were flowering but only as scattered
individuals. At the top of a rise on the Wren
trail were a number of large colonies of
Corybas incurvus amongst leaf litter under
eucalypts. Some were in flower, many in bud
and an even greater number just leaves. Along
the trackside was a good colony of the mallee
form of Pterostylis nana. These plants are
short-stemmed with small nodules rather than
hairs on the stem. The flowers have short
sepals and the tip of the galea is quite blunt.
Further information on. the different forms of
P. nana can be found in a comprehensive
article by Bob Bates : "Pterostylis nana: really
a complex of species in South Australia";
NOSSA Journal, Vol. 12, No. 10, 1988.

Again at the top of a rise, this time on the Boundary track Cyrtostylis robusta were flowering. Here also was a
Cyanicula deformis living up to its name with the lateral sepals joined together, and also a colony of what we
thought were Corybas expansus mainly in bud, although the photographers did manage to find a couple of flowers
partially open. In the afternoon Bob Bates confirmed that these Corybas were actually C. despectans, an unusual
and very pale form. C. expansus is only found growing on coastal sand-dunes and when the flower is fully open
the hood is completely hidden. The sands here were more likely to be desert sand and thus an unsuitable habitat.

By 2.30pm it was beginning to rain, exactly as had been forecast for the start of the Crows/Port Power football
match, so we felt it was time to conclude our pleasant walk in Sandy Creek. A number of the party then went to
David Pettifor's for a cuppa and a look around his shadehouse

Orchids seen : Caladenia latifolia (1) and other Caladenia sp. (I) Corybas incurvus (f), C. despectans (f)
Cyanicula deformis (f) Genoplesium sp. (f) Glossodia major (b) Leporella fimbriata (1) a new record for the park
Microtis sp. (1) Pyrorchis nigricans (1) Pterostylis nana (f) hills and mallee forms P. sanguinea (f), P. biseta
(rosettes & buds) P. plumosa (rosette & bud) Thelymitra sp. (seedpods &1)

(1) leaves, (b) buds, (f) flowers