The highlight of the month is the emergence of Striped Greenhoods, Pterostylis striata, in the known site within the Great Otway National Park at Anglesea.
Striped Greenhood
Certainly not as many flowers as in previous years, only about 15 of these attractive greenhoods managed to push their way through the damp soil. There were plenty of non-flowering rosettes indicating that the colony is firmly established, and the fact that it is within the boundaries of the Great Otway National Park we are confident that it should be able to be conserved.
Striped Greenhood rosette
However, it is the only known site for this orchid in the Anglesea district. The colony was first observed in 2019 when Friends of Eastern Otways were weeding in the area, so who knows whether more colonies could be awaiting discovery.
Alison Watson and Margaret MacDonald