To conclude this series on pink in nature, and just in time for Christmas, I can't think of a better way than to indulge myself - and hopefully you - by revelling in some pink orchids. If you've just come in you might want to go back to number 3 in the series for a little background on pink in flowers, or you could just dive in here and relax! All these Australian orchids are insect-pollinated, though I'm not so sure about the big Peruvian ones, which could well be serviced by hummingbirds.
We'll start with some Australian ones though.
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| Hyacinth Orchid Dipodium variegatum, Nowra. This is a group of striking orchids in every way; they flower at the height of summer when few others are out, the flowering stems are up to 60cm high, and they bear up to 50 big colourful flowers. Moreover (other than a couple of tropical species) they are leafless, relying entirely on mycorrhizal fungi to tap into nearby plant roots. |
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| Pink Spiral Orchid Spiranthes australis, Mongarlowe New South Wales southern tablelands. In great contrast to the Hyacinth Orchids, these delicate little plants have flowers only 5mm long, tightly wound around the stem. A genus widespread in Africa, Asia and the Americas, with an uncertain number of Australian species which are still being sorted out. |
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| Esperance King Spider Orchid Caladenia (or Arachnorchis) decora, Esperance, south-west Western Australia. The debate about whether to divide the huge and apparently disparate genus Caladenia is slowly dying down, with the forces of conservatism seemingly prevailing. This is not the time of year in Australia to fan flames however! |
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| Pink Candy Orchid Caladenia (or Arachnorchis) hirta Paynes Find, inland Western Australia. |
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| Little Pink Fairies Caladenia reptans (at least everyone agrees that this is still Caladenia!), Boyagin Rock, south-west Western Australia. |
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| Purple-heart Fingers Caladenia (or Petalochilus) hillmanii, near Nowra, New South Wales. The members of this (sub-)genus are notoriously variable in colour. |
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| Pink (or Rosy) Caps Caladenia (or Stegostyla) congesta, Canberra. The beautiful black 'tongue' makes this a favourite of mine. |
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| Pink (or Purple!) Donkey Orchid Diuris punctata, Tallong, southern tablelands New South Wales. Striking in a genus of mostly yellow flowers; the flower purportedly resembles a donkey's face. |
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| Parson's Bands Eriochilus cuculatus, south of Canberra. A delicate little group of orchids, dominated by a pair of lateral sepals far larger than the other flower parts. Flowers in summer, unusually around here. |
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| Pink Sun Orchid Thelymitra carnea, Canberra. Opens fully only on hot sunny days. |
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| Epidendrum syringothingus, near Machu Picchu, Peru. At least some members of both this genus and the next are known to be pollinated by hummingbirds. |
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| Sobralia dichotoma, near Machu Picchu, Peru. |
And on that delightful note I will leave you for 2014; my very sincere thanks for reading this far, and I can hope we can explore further together next year.
BACK ON WEDNESDAY, NEW YEAR'S EVE