Orchids of Western Australia on:
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Among the many
* This table has its source as the Second Edition of Hoffman and Brown in 1992
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The Species Orchid Society of Western Australia (Inc)
— a gallery of orchids from Western Australia
Orchids from Western and South Australia
Orchid Conservation Coalition
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orchids of Western Australia List of orchids
Among the many wildflower
A wildflower (or wild flower) is a flower that grows in the wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. The term implies that the plant probably is neither a hybrid nor a selected cultivar that is in any way different from the w ...
s in Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
, there are around four hundred species of orchid
Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant.
Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...
s.
Early identifications
One of the firstbotanist
Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...
s to study Western Australia was Archibald Menzies
Archibald Menzies ( ; 15 March 1754 – 15 February 1842) was a Scottish surgeon, botanist and naturalist. He spent many years at sea, serving with the Royal Navy, private merchants, and the Vancouver Expedition. He was the first recorded Euro ...
, aboard HMS ''Discovery'', who explored King George Sound
King George Sound ( nys , Menang Koort) is a sound on the south coast of Western Australia. Named King George the Third's Sound in 1791, it was referred to as King George's Sound from 1805. The name "King George Sound" gradually came into use ...
in 1791. Many of the samples (including orchids) were lost in the return to England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, but those that did survive were documented in ''Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen
''Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen'' (Prodromus of the Flora of New Holland and Van Diemen's Land) is a flora of Australia written by botanist Robert Brown and published in 1810. Often referred to as ''Prodromus Flora Novae ...
'', published by Robert Brown in 1810.
The first three orchids from Western Australia to be named were ''Caladenia menziesii'' (now '' Leptoceras menziesii''), '' Caladenia flava'', and ''Diuris longifolia
''Diuris longifolia'' is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia.
It has a variety of common names including purple pansy orchid, donkey orchid, common donkey orchid and wallflower orchid. It was one of the fi ...
''.
In 1802 Robert Brown himself collected 500 specimens of flora from Western Australia, including:
* ''Diuris emarginata'' var. ''emarginata''
* ''Diuris emarginata'' var. ''pauciflora''
*'' Diuris setacea''
*'' Epiblema grandiflorum''
*''Microtis alba
''Microtis alba'', commonly known as the white mignonette orchid or slender onion-orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single hollow, onion-like leaf and up to sixty small, green and white flow ...
''
*'' Microtis media''
*'' Microtis pulchella''
*'' Prasophyllum gibbosum''
*''Prasophyllum macrostachyum
''Prasophyllum macrostachyum'', commonly known as the laughing leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single smooth, tube-shaped leaf and up to thirty yellowish-green and purple flowers. It ...
''
*''Thelymitra canaliculata
''Thelymitra canaliculata'', commonly called the flushed sun orchid or blue sun orchid is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, fleshy leaf and up to twenty ei ...
''
*''Thelymitra tigrina
''Thelymitra tigrina'', commonly called the tiger orchid or tiger sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single narrow leaf and up to fifteen small yellow flowers with small brown spo ...
''
*''Thelymitra fuscolutea
''Thelymitra fuscolutea'', commonly called the chestnut sun orchid, is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, flat, leathery leaf and up to fifteen or more yell ...
''
In ''West Australian Orchids'' (1930), Emily Pelloe
Emily Harriet Pelloe (3 May 1878 – 15 April 1941) was a botanical illustrator, and author of books, of the flowering plants of Western Australia. Her work in watercolour, extensive illustrations, and English language descriptions were included ...
described and illustrated an extensive survey. She provided an English text, paintings, and drawings for the amateur reader, a mixture of impression and scientific illustration of the genera.
Orchids of South Western Australia
* This table has its source as the Second Edition of Hoffman and Brown in 1992
References
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Further reading
* * * * * * *External links
The Species Orchid Society of Western Australia (Inc)
— a gallery of orchids from Western Australia
Orchids from Western and South Australia
Orchid Conservation Coalition
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orchids of Western Australia List of orchids
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...