Orchids galore near Captains Flat and Mangarlowe : March 23 2026

The road trip did not start out the best way. Had a rattling noise going on - stopped a little out of town to check. A loose plate under the car touching the road. Googled a garage to get help

alt

Was an easy fix - cable ties work better than plastic clips. Put the day's action an hour back. The plan for the day is to meet a friend to share orchids at Captains Flat

alt

Rolling hills to start on a sealed road. Fulled up in Cooma - another higher price for fuel itching closer to $3 a litre. Sealed road after Cooma was just 7 kms - then a gravel road with corrugations galore

Was not sure where I was meeting my friend other than Tallaganda NP. No signage did not help - was hoping to find my friend on roadside. Got to Captains Flat where she lives. Called - track back a few kms. Park up and walk in for the promise of midge orchids

alt

Christina has scouted a few while she waited for me - corunastylis clivicola - a first for me

alt

Next up shows a labellum with hairy edges to the labellum - probably corunastylis oligathes - a few steps from the others - also a first for me

alt

It all comes down to hairy edges - corunastylis oliganthes probably

alt

In the grassy areas were some eriochilus orchids - probably Parson's Bands orchids

alt

Not sure of ID - probably eriochilus cucullatus - need to study the shots in details as there are two others that grow this high

Probably corunastylis oligathes

alt

Side on of the eriochilus - just starting to seed

alt

Decide time - oliganthes vs clivicola - I am no help as it is day one for me from my house

alt

Scrubby low bush is the locale - there has been some rain but no evidence on the ground - just in the orchids pushing up

alt

Now this is a huge clue. Typically the leaf for eriochilus cucullatus disappears at flowering - this suggest eriochilus magenteus - altitude is right. Leaf is right. Timing is right. Colour is not a deciding factor- white or pink

alt