Journal Number 99
May 2006

AUSTRALIAN NOTES

The Mega-Prasophyllums of Western Australia
By Mike Duncan
From ANOS (Vic) Bulletin Vol 38 (7): 12; Feb. 2006.

As the orchid season wanes in south-east Australia and largely retreats to the alpine areas, it's still in full swing in Western Australia. With more than 370 recognised species in the south-west land division, and a flowering period largely restricted to the August-December period, there are plenty of spectacular orchids still to see in late November.

In particular, there are many late flowering Caladenia, Diuris, Prasophyllum and Thelymitra species. In 2005, I spent nine amazing days studying some of the more beautiful, bizarre and enormous orchids W.A. has to offer.

In late spring, while the diminutive, 10- 15cm spikes of the Fragrant Leek Orchid (Prasophyllum suaveolens) flowers in Victoria, there are some giant Prasophyllum species in flower in W.A. The Christmas Leek Orchid, (P. brownii), the Swamp Leek Orchid (P. drummondii), the King Leek Orchid (P. regium), and even the Fringed Leek Orchid (P. fimbria) are all in flower. The average plant of each of these species is comfortably greater than 1 metre, and in the case of P. regium, the average plant is about 1.5m tall - it's not the `king' of the leek orchids for nothing. All are easily larger than Victoria's biggest Prasophyllum, the (not so) Tall Leek Orchid (P. elatum).

... In a burnt swamp, I was soon surrounded by a forest of enormous Prasophyllum spikes, before being confronted by a huge P. regium plant of more than 2m. Now, it's not very often that I have to look up to anything (some would say that's due to my generally poor attitude and lack of respect, but that's another story), but for the first time ever I encountered an orchid that was taller than myself. I'm easily taller than 1.9 in my boots, and my hand is reaching up to the top of the spike. My estimation is that it was a massive 2.1 m tall!