Wild Wielangta

Andrew North of North Barker Ecosystem Services, has located many orchids, after a very brief inspection, just off the road in proposed new logging coupe – W19D.

Two of these are of particular significance:

Pterostylis atriola – Snug Greenhood – so named as it was first discovered on Snug Plains only 11 years ago.

This is particularly significant because it is listed as endangered not only on the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 but also on the Commonwealth Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Corunastylis nuda (ex–Genoplesium Nudum) the tiny midge orchid. This was also previously found on W17E. It is listed as rare on the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.

It is reasonable to assume that these occur elsewhere on the proposed W19D logging coupe as he only saw a small portion of it. It was however somewhat fortuitous that he did at all, as these orchids flower in late summer and autumn. The specimens although undoubtedly identifiable are somewhat dried out.

The publication: Flowering Times of Tasmanian Orchids: A Practical Guide to Field Botanists – M. Wapstra, N. Roberts, H. Wapstra and A. Wapstra (2008) identifies flowering times specifically to direct targeted orchid survey recognising the cryptic habit of orchids. This guide is specifically written to assist administrators (including forest managers) ‘…in making rational decisions regarding the timing of surveys for orchids’.

Thorough survey to determine the extent and distribution of these species should be undertaken during the flowering periods which are identified, for both species, as occurring from January to March.

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Photos are credited to H. & A. Wapstra.