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Butterfly Orchid

Small semi-pendulous epiphytic orchid. 5 - 15 cm across, stems to 5 cm long.

Leaves

3 - 10 thin leathery oblong, sometimes curved, dark green leaves 2 - 11 cm long and 4 - 17 mm wide.

Flowers

1 - 4 pendulous sprays of 2 - 17 pale yellowish-green to brown flowers, lip white with yellow tints and purple stripes. Sepals and petals narrowly spoon-shaped, spreading; lip short, 3-lobed, projecting forward, side lobes broad, erect, curved inwards.

Field Guide

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  • Species Category: Plants
  • Species origin: Native
  • Conservation status: Common

  • What to Observe

    • Presence

    • First fully open single flower

    • Full flowering (record all days)

    • End of flowering (when 95% of the flowers have faded)

    • No flowering

    Climate Adaptations

    By virtue of their sensitivity to the changes in the climate, epiphytes and orchids provide a forewarning about impending damages and act as bio-indicators.

  • When and Where

    When To Look

    • Year round
    • Flowering time October to December

    Where To Look

    • Found between the Hunter River in NSW through south-eastern Victoria to northern Tasmania
    • Epiphytic on mossy branches and trunks in fern gullies of cool rainforest and tall closed forest
    • Look in fern gullies and gorges and on stream banks in rainforests
    • Although scattered and uncommon, it can be locally abundant

  • What Else?

    Plant hosts in Morwell National Park, Victoria are varied. In descending order of importance they include: Pittosporum undulatum, Coprosma quadrifida, Pomaderris aspera, Olearia argophylla, Rapanea howittiana, Cassinia longifolia.
  • Trails: Morwell NP VIC
  • Species Region: Australia