Nature in Tasmania > Plants >  Orchids

Tasmania is home to some pretty remarkable flora, and the 220 or so Orchid species are no exception.

While Orchids can be found flowering throughout the state in every month of the year, in a variety of habitats, but the best time to see them is in Spring when many Orchid species are flowering. 

One of the best places to find Orchids close to Hobart is at the Peter Murrell Reserve, just 20 minutes south of the CBD. The reserve is home to an impressive 44 species , many of which can be found in the slashed fire breaks adjacent to the seemingly endless fire trails that wind their way throughout the reserve. Tasmanian Orchids are a fairly enigmatic group of plants, remaining below ground and generally only revealing themselves when it’s time to flower, and even then they can be difficult to spot with the untrained eye.  Fortunately at PMR there are a number of species that flower in large swives making them easier to spot.

It’s not just Orchids that make PMR special, there are many other interesting plants and lots of bird species to observe, including the threatened Forty Spotted Pardalote, Honey Eaters and Raptors, just to name a few. It is also not uncommon to see Blue Tongue Lizards and snakes basking in the sun or an Echidna out searching for ants.

Some of the more showy Orchid species to keep an eye out for at Spring time are Wax-lip Orchids,  Sun Orchids, the Flying Duck Orchids, Duck Orchids, Beard Orchids, and Leak Orchids.

Text by Jonathan Esling

Latest images

Sun Orchid

Calochilus platychila (purple beard orchid)

Calochilus paludosus (strap beard orchid)

Caladenia helvina (summer spider orchid)

Calochilus herbaceus (Pale Beard Orchid)

Prasophyllum brevilabre (short lipped leek orchid)

Caladenia dilatata (Green comb spider orchid)

Caleana major - flying duck orchid

Green-comb Spider Orchid

Leek Orchid

Paracaleana minor (small duck orchid)

Purple Beard Orchid (Calochilus platychila)