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I include 3 fairly dull looking Victorian terrestrial orchids of the
genus Acianthus. While they are not particularly colourful (being
small, brownish and very easily overlooked) they indicate why we are
so interested in our orchids. Most orchid books list 2 Victorian
species, caudatus and exertus. However, in 1991 exertus was divided
into 2, exertus and pusillus. Then there were 3 and we have found 3.
We called the Reef Hills orchids exertus as it was clearly
different to the other 2 and we were happy that we had found all 3
Acianthus. Not so, as a new species (collinus) was identified in
1999 at Wodonga. The Reef Hills orchid is definitely collinus, so we
have extended its known range and doubled its known Victorian sites.
What a charge! Acianthus means spikey petals. All 3 pictured
illustrate this aspect, particularly caudatus (The Mayfly Orchid).
Note the resting insect on this flower. The Mount Cannibal specimen is
pusillus, the well-named Mosquito Orchid, possibly the commonest
Victorian orchid. Collinus is not common and bears the common name,
Inland Pixie Caps. Acianthus attract pollinating insects by odour and
offer a nectar reward. caudatus is described as smelling like a wet
dog. I wonder what the nectar tastes like? In May 2003 we travelled to
the McLaughlin's Beach area to try and find the fourth Acianthus
species, exertus and finally found it in forest north of Woodside.
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