Australian terrestrials

[Roberta]

These come from southeast, south, and western Australia, with a Mediterranean-type climate characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Pterostylis curta comes from somewhat wetter areas, and so has a shorter domancy than Diuris and Thelymitra. (I start watering the Pterostylis by early August, the other Australians as well as the Europeans not until mid to late October)

Pterostylis curta is the only member of the genus that I have had good success with. The different members of the genus clearly come from different areas, this one seems to find my climate ideal.

Diuris orientis comes from eastern and southeastern Australia. Duris magnifica comes from western Australia

Thelymitra (x-macmillanii x glaucophylla) is a hybrid that is the first of my Thelys to bloom. It is a cross of a red natural hybrid and a blue species. The color is rather dull compared to the blue one that will be emerging soon, but it has a lot of hybrid vigor, always ahead of the others and with multiple plants that keep multiplying. The common name of Thelymitra is "Sun Orchid" - on gray days, the flowers are shut, only opening in bright sunlight. If the light fades, they shut until the sun comes out again. Today was the first bright day in quite awhile, this one was just waiting for the opportunity.