Terrestrial Orchids

In the late 1980s I was interested in Terrestrial Orchids at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

The terrestrial orchids flowered each year in September during spring.

The first orchids to take my interest were the Common Greenhoods that I found on the 4th west. I noticed these unusual ground plants that were exotic in nature.

Having subscribed to the Australian Orchaedian magazine I became more aware of what terrestrial orchids looked like. This lead to my discovery of the spider like greenhoods on the 10th west and pink fairies on the 2nd west.

I waited for springtime each year to search for more terrestrial orchids. They were very difficult to find and often in thick bush. Being small and on the ground they are not immediately noticeable and difficult to discover on cloudy days.

There were some rare "trigger" plants located on the 17th west. When flowering they have a moving pollen mechanism to impact the passing insect. They are not orchids but are another exotic plant.

Orchid Show 1997

I was a young member of the Australian Native Orchid Society Victorian branch when at RMGC.

An orchid show is held by the ANOS each spring during September in Melbourne. I have attached some photos taken at the 1997 show.





ANOS Spring Show Melbourne 1997.

The ANOS has a book store and I have purchased several publications about Terrestrial Orchids in Victoria and Australia.

Since leaving Royal Melbourne I have visited many orchid shows and have seen orchids flowering in national parks of the Mornington Peninsula.