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Pterostylis, an undescribed Bird orchid. 

This ‘Bird’ was tall at 28 – 30 centimetres, and the colour around the opening was more red than brown. A small orchid in the shape of a bird, with a green flower and a sparse feather-like labellum.  A base of textured pointed leaves near on the ground from a stem clad above right, with a few small leaves along the flower stem.  One flower per plant. 

October, well after other Bird orchids in the area had finished. 

Bridgetown, South West region, Western Australia

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Sources used for identification of wildflowers shown on these pages and regions where they occur see Credits
 
These pages will feature some of the wildflowers I have photographed in Western Australia, and where possible, identified.  If you are able to help identify further flowers, or correct any I may have wrong, please contact us.
 
Information given for each species will give botanical name, known common names, describe the flower, give time of year it flowered, and where it was photographed, and the areas it occurs in.  Names have been matched to Florabase which has also been used to show distribution.
 
See some of these wildflower in larger sized photos on our Flickr pages.
HomeLists and Links > Nature in Australia > Alphabetical Wildflower Index > Wildflowers P-4
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Bird orchids attract their specific pollinator, a tiny gnat, by emitting a scent from a little pouch at the end of their labellum. The gnat flies in and lands on the feathery looking labellum which springs up, pushing the unsuspecting gnat into the "body" of the bird where the pollen is.  You can see the yellow pollen on the stamen through the translucent petals that form the bird-like body, and these give the appearance of eyes on the bird. The gnat then escapes, and after visiting several birds, pollen is shared and they are fertilised.   From Inspiration Outdoors  

Pterostylis, Bird orchid (above) 
Due to the amount of 'feathering' on the labellum, these are unlikely to be Pterostylis barbata.  The brown around the opening excludes Pterostylis turfosa.  These may be Pterostylis sigmoidea.

A tiny orchid in the shape of a bird, with a green flower and a feather-like tassel which is the labellum.  A base of textured pointed leaves near on the ground from a stem clad with partly upright textured leaves as at below right, with a few small leaves along the flower stem.  One flower per plant. 

Spring

Bridgetown

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Pterostylis barbata, Bird orchid (above) 

A tiny orchid in the shape of a bird, with a green flower and a sparse feather-like labellum.  A base of textured pointed leaves near on the ground from a stem clad above right, with a few small leaves along the flower stem.  One flower per plant. 

Spring

Bridgetown, and found in the South West, Perth area, southern Great Southern, with occasional occurrences through the Wheatbelt

Pterostylis, Bird orchids which have not been fully identified as they do not fit descriptions of known species.