Coastal Spider Orchid

What a beauty Barry :)

Where I grew up is only 50 kilometres away by road, and the bush there had so many different spider orchids, some of which I have not seen in publications. As a child I knew exactly where and when each one would flower. I cannot remember the timing now so have not been spider orchid hunting since. In all the bushwalking and wildflower photographing I have done near home this year, I have not seen a single Spider Orchid.

Well spotted Barry. You have to wonder how many other unknown or hardly known plants are out there waiting for recognition. Love the incredible variety in spider orchids.

Cheers,

Val

Barry,

Congratulations on finding it, recognising what it was, notifying DPAW and most importantly not giving away it's exact location to all and sundry.
I have long been fascinated by our, in many cases, unique wild flowers, particularly the orchids. I have a small hand book on them which goes with me whenever we travel. And the camera of course.
How they evolved the various forms and in many cases specialised methods of pollination is a never ending source of wonder to me.
How the hell did a plant which to my knowledge has no ocular senses, develop the ability to convince a wasp that it was in fact an attractive female member of his species.

Cheers
Pop