Apsley Gorge
Click on the photos to see an enlarged version
Photos taken on 18th January 2003 of the walk from Budds Mare to Rowleys Creek
DCP_2018 11:48
Hyacinth Orchid, Dipodium punctatum
This is a leafless terrestrial orchid with one or two spikes carrying up to 50 flowers in crowded heads. The flowers are deep purplish red. The Hyacinth Orchid is saprophytic, and derives its nourishment from dead or decaying organic matter.
Rowleys Creek Grid Reference 996.11 735.03
Plant identification by Maria Hitchcock:
text below from: Students Flora of North Eastern New South Wales Part VI Angiosperms: Families 171 - 214 University of New England Armidale NSW Ed N.C.W. Beadle 1987
34. DIPODIUM R.Br.
c. 12 spp. China, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Solomon is., Vanuatu, NZ. 6 spp. endemic in Austr., 2 spp. NE.NSW.
Terrestrial glabrous herbs, some species leafy, the 2 NSW spp. leafless saprophytes with thick, fleshy, underground roots. Flower stems erect, with numerous sheathing bracts. Flowers numerous, showy. Labellum, sessile, 3 lobed; lateral lobes small, more or less embracing the column; mid-lobe larger, narrow-ovate, pubescent. Column erect, c. half the length of the labellum, semi-cylindrical. Stigma small, concave. Anther operculate; pollinia 2, with distinct caudicles.
A. Flowers pale to deep pink, red blotched. Plants 30-90 degrees cm tall, stem dark with acute sheathing bracts. Flowers few to many; on pedicels c. I cm, erect, pink with red spots, red with pink or mauve and unspotted or rarely deep purplish-red. Sepals and petals equal, oblong-lanceolate, spreading or recurving. Labellum 11-14 rum long; lateral lobes 4.5 mm, narrow, embracing the column; midlobe sparsely pubescent; callus plate of two ridges converging into a pubescent keel. Column 5-7 mm. NT., Q., NSW, Vic., Tas., SA. Widespread, common. Fl. November to May. [Dendrobium punctatum Sm., Dipodium punctatum Sm., R.Br., var. album F.M. Bail.]. Hyacinth Orchid, Dipodium punctatum
Webmaster: Don Hitchcock
Email: don@northnet.com.au
Anyone (e.g. students, libraries, government agencies such as tourist bureaus, the general public) may use, print and publish these photographs taken by me and presented on this website for any legitimate non-commercial purpose, at no cost, and without asking permission. However a note such as "Photo: Don Hitchcock" in a small typeface somewhere in the document would be appreciated if it is to be published.
DCP_2018 11:48