Orchids of the Fassifern Peaks

A simple photographic guide to Native Orchids found in our Fassifern Peaks area of the Scenic Rim in south-east Queensland. 

The currently accepted species name of the orchid is shown as well as a common name (if known).

Below each orchid photograph is a key showing the following:  
Type: T – Terrestrial (in the ground), L – Lithophytes (boulders and cliff faces), E – Ephiphytes (on trunks and branches)
Habitat: open forest, heathland, woodland, shady forest, rainforest, shady protected areas, moist areas etc.
Flowering Period: Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec 


The images are in flowering order, from Summer through to Spring.

Orchids flowering Summer to Autumn

Chiloglottis sylvestris – 
Wasp Orchid – 
T – moist sites in tall forest and rainforest – Dec - May

Corybas barbarae –
Fairy Lanterns –
T – sheltered forested slopes often in gravelly soils – May-Aug

Epipogium roseum – 

Ghost Orchid – 

T – in high rainfall areas, rainforest – Dec-Mar

Orchids flowering Autumn to Winter

Acianthus exsertus –
Mosquito Orchid –
T – open forest or heathland – Mar-Aug

Corysanthes fimbriata –

Fringed Helmet Orchid – 

T –heath and shrubby forest – May-Jul

Orchids flowering Winter to Spring

Pterostylis curta – 

Blunt Greenhood – 

T – moist forest, woodland – July-Oct

Sarcochilus falcatus –

Orange Blossom Orchid – 

E – lower branches of trees in higher rainfall areas – Jun-Oct

Thelychiton gracilicaulis – 

Blotched Cane Orchid – 

E – L – on trees or rocks in rainforest or moist situations – Jul-Sep

Orchids flowering in Spring

Calochilus campestris – 

Copper Beard – 

T – heathland, heathy forest, open forest – Aug-Nov

Petalochilus catenatus –

White Finger – 

T – wide range of forested or heathy habitats - Aug-Oct

Dockrillia pugioniformis – 

Dagger Orchid –

 E – clumps clinging to rocks or large pendulous clumps dangling from tree branches on the edges of the rainforest – Sept-Nov

Orchids flowering Spring to Summer

Caleana major – 

Flying Duck Orchid – 

T – well drained soils in open forest, heathland –

Oct-Jan

Dipodium punctatum – 

Blotched Hyacinth – 

T – open forest, woodland, heath – Nov-Mar

Dipodium variegatum – 

Slender Hyacinth Orchid – 

T – open forest, grassland – Oct-Mar

Diuris sulphurea – 

Donkey Orchid – 

T – open forest, grassland – Oct-Dec

Gastrodia sesamoides – 

Potato Orchid – 

T – open forest, heathy forest, woodland –

Oct-Dec

Microtis unifolia  – 
Common Onion Orchid –
T – grassland, open forest grassy areas – Oct-Jan 

Spiranthes australis – 

Spiral Orchid – 

T – grasslands in moist soils – Dec-Mar