Distribution of a species declared critically endangered (Commonwealth).
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A 3-flowered plant. The only multi-flowered plant among at least 80 seen. Taller than most (about 15 cm) and flowers seemed larger, although past their best. The top flower missing several segments, including the labellum.
A general question for you orchid experts, if you come back to say the same exact spot/tuber next year, would the same plant be likely to have 2/3 heads again in future seasons? Or is it just a random thing that only happened this year for that plant and it might just re-appear as a normal single plant next year?
Cath, that is a new site southeast of Mt Majura's big northwest population. This significant finding may indicate that the northwest population is far more extensive than previously thought. Great find! :) Waltraud
Please note I have changed the location very slightly - each photo had slightly different coordinates, and I think this reflects the actual site better. Re Aaron's question about whether it would come up multi-flowered again, I wondered at the time whether it's larger size might indicate it was a polyploid, in which case it might always be bigger. But this is total speculation!
Cath I can't see the map with the location now - wonder what happened? perhaps it is on the other side of the fence outside Mt Majura nature reserve; if this is the case I could not see the map. Waltraud
Cath your location is spot on. I just found it, I'm there right now. What a magnificent plant, but more importantly what a huge colony. Your estimate of at least 80 I would say is conservative, I reckon there's more like 150 plus now. This is a massive find for Mount Majura, super important huge thriving colony. You deserve a gold star!!!!!
Sorry I had a few typos because I was writing those messages from my iPhone. Cath I reckon there is closer to 150 plants if an extensive count was done. I just kept finding huge clusters of them everywhere in this area and they went quite a fair way up the hill too. Also surrounded by Hymenochilus which was lovely.
I suggest you mark the plant very specifically, and check it next year to see if it produces multi flowers again. As a general comment I have noted that orchids that are robust plants, eg that are larger or have more flowers on an inflorescence than normal tend to retain that characteristic.
I found a number of Canberra Spider orchid registrations for Symonston including those which were definitively on Mt Majura - i have been on a survey with a group of people when we found them. Something weird is going on which shifts Mt Majura or Majura,Act registrations to Symonston. There are a number of Aarons registrations of other orchids (and other species) for Symonston which I wonder are in fact found on Mt Majura/Majura,Act such as the Leopard orchids etc .
Thanks for giving me the Symonston account privilege Aaron and for the explanation about Googles fault to correctly name locality. As suspected all registrations from Sept 9th onward (I didn't check earlier registrations) including Cath's and other Caladenia actensis registrations which are stated for Symonston occur in fact on Mt Majura / Majura, ACT. Problem is that CNM wrongly states presence of species for a certain locality; I hope this can be solved.
Not entirely sure about double-header plants always being double-headers - I suspect not but really have no clue. With a lot of orchids, Caladenia actensis included, there is some evidence to suggest that they often don't put up leaves in consecutive years let alone flowers - I suspect this may have to do with how dry etc conditions are.
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