On the Hunt for Native Orchids

Just over a year ago I discovered that New Zealand had orchids and I did get a few photos of some. One of my neighbours who knows I am interested in these kinds of things has also come and got me a few times whenever he sees orchids flowering, so that I can get a photo of them.

This year I was given the opportunity to go orchid hunting up in the Te Paki region and I jumped at the chance. So yesterday (8 Oct) we headed off to the Earth Wall Track which runs off the Spirits Bay Road where I was introduced to orchids. There was a good range there and having someone point them out to me and give me an idea of where to look was invaluble.

After about half an hour I realised that some of the habitat that we were looking in is the same habitat in parts of my backyard - do I have orchids lurking that that I do not know about nor have seen?

Once we got back we went for a wander and sure enough, there are orchids in my back yard that I have walked past without noticing. The first find of thelymitra.malvina surprised @bill-nz and the second one shocked him!

The 2 below that are only to the genus level of Caladenia where found up norht on one of the tracks, but are an anomoly.

Here is a range of the different ones found in one day, which also nicely highligts the different colours that can be found.

Posted on October 9, 2016 11:02 AM by tangatawhenua