Australia So Much to See
Eriochilus helonomos, Swamp Bunny Orchid
A very tiny white orchid about four or five millimetres top to bottom, with two prominent downward pointing petals resembling rabbit ears and arm-like petals folded inwards. One or two flowers on a short stem, which has a small broad based pointed leave with a tinge of red in edges, a short distance up the stem from the ground, semi upright and hugging stem. Hairy appearance on flower and stem. The flower pictured above right appears to be opening
Bridgetown, South
West region, Western Australia and occurs in a few scattered locations around Perth, to the north of Perth, close to the coast in
the South West and Great Southern regions, with a few sightings further inland.
Eremophila psilocalyx (formerly known as Eremophila pachyphylla) Poverty Bush
Pale mauve wide tubular flowers with smooth (hairless)
calyx and outside of flower. An upright shrub, with elongated flat leaves that terminate in a sharp point.
Spring
Lake
Grace, Wheatbelt, Western Australia and found in the Goldfields from Esperance to Kalgoorlie and in pats of the southern Wheatbelt.
Eremophila spectabilis subsp. brevis, Showy Emu Bush.
There are two subspecies of Eremophila spectabilis with Eremophila spectabilis subsp. spectabilis is
found mostly in the Meekatharra area.
Broad tubular mauve, pink or blue flowers. Pale green narrow leaves are elongated
to a pointed tip.
August
South of Leinster, Shire of Leonora, Goldfields, Western Australia. Found from Wiluna
to Menzies, in the eastern Mid West and the Goldfields regions.
Ericksonella saccharata (formerly Caladenia saccharata 2004), Sugar orchid
A tiny white orchid one to two centimetres across,
with stiffly held petals, the lower ones being held out roughly parallel to the ground and the uppermost being upright, like a very
tiny chair. White petals are brown or maroon on the rear side. Column tip is green and rear of column brown or maroon. Labellum has yellow calli down the full length. Labellum lateral lobes either side of the labellum have purple markings. Leaf is narrow and concave, hairy on the rear side, as is the lower stem of the flower. One flower per stem, and can be found
in large colonies.
August
