West Australian Orchids by Emily Pelloe

West Australian Orchids by Emily Pelloe. “Half hiding, half peeping, the orchids appear”

Illustration of sixteen West Australian orchids from the genus Caladenia, by Emily Pelloe.

Illustration of nine West Australian orchids, by Emily Pelloe.

Illustration of fourteen West Australian orchids, by Emily Pelloe.

Orchids are usually termed the aristocrats of plant life. The presence of over 130 species in Western Australia adds considerable interest to the study of her magnificent and world-famous flora.

The order or family Orchidaceae was originally defined by Haller in the 18th Century, its name being adapted from the root of Orchis, a well-known genus in the temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere. It belongs to the group of plants known as monocotyledons, which have seeds generating in a single lobe, and with few exceptions, parallel-veined leaves. The Orchidaceae family is a very large one, represented in the world by over 400 genera and many thousands of species, especially abundant in the Tropics, and rare in the Arctic regions.

West Australian orchids, which are practically all terrestrial, cannot be compared to some found in Brazil, the Malay States, India, and other tropical places, for size, vividness of colour, and bizarre marking.  … Read more

Orchids, like all other classified plants, have two names. The first, usually of Greek derivation, denotes the genus to which it belongs, and the second, generally a Latin word, the species. In some cases personal names commemorating distinguished botanists and others have been used, but the names, when translated, usually indicate some characteristic of genus or the species. “Why not simple English names?” is a question often asked that can be best explained, perhaps, by mentioning the fact that science knows no nationality. A great deal of West Australian botanical collection, research classification, has been done by foreign enthusiasts. It is a good thing the custom exists of using a common dead language such as Greek or Latin, for purposes of scientific nomenclature.  ... Read more

The chief characteristic of an orchid flower is the column, composed of the united male and female generative organs, stamens and pistil, and bearing upon it a small button-like projection known as the rostellum, covered, like the stigma, with a sticky glue like substance attractive to insects.

Orchids are fertilised by pollen-grains falling from the anther on to the stigma, or being deposited upon it by pollen bearing insects visiting the flower. Should the rostellum be touched by an insect (or even for purposes of experiment with a pin) the pollen masses are released from the anther at the top of the column. The column often bears wing-like, semi-transparent appendages that assist in the direction of insects to the rostellum.

At the base of the column is the ovary or seed capsule.  … Read more

The study of orchids should appeal to any lover of Nature’s beauty and wonders, and is one to be encouraged. Orchid-hunting is a delightful pastime entailing much healthful walking exercise, and adding unending charm to bush excursions. The interest of the beginner who has acquired some knowledge of species and habits, rapidly becomes the enthusiasm of the keen collector. And there is no doubt that the pursuit of Nature-study once cultivated by those lucky bush-dwellers with opportunity at their door-step, does much to relieve the monotony of country life.

“Live and let live,” however, should be the motto of those orchid-seekers who strive to pick every flower on sight-a practice that can have but one result, the gradual but sure extermination of even the commonest kinds.  … Read more

Acurninat, tapering to a point.
Anther, the part of a flower containing pollen.
Awned, bristly or bearded.
Basal, relating to or forming the base of any part of a flower or leaf
Bract, a leaf usually smaller than the true leaves of a plant, from which a flower-stalk arises, or any modified leaf or scale on a flower stalk or at the base of a flower.
Calli, glandular hairs or appendages.
Capsule, the ovary, or that part of an orchid below the column where the seed is formed.
Channeled, grooved.
Cilia, hair-like formations, usually marginal, forming a fringe.
Clavate, club-shaped, growing gradually thicker.
Claw, the slender stem-like formation sometimes present at the base of the petals or lip of an orchid.  ... Read more

Caladenia [kal-a-dean-ee-er] from kalos, beautiful, and adenos, a gland, referring to the glands on the lip, and the great beauty of the Species generally.

A large genus of hairy plants, with several species in New Zealand, and between 60 and 70 endemic to Australia, and chiefly represented in Western Australia. Caldenia species are readily distinguished by the rows of calli or glandular hairs upon the lip Leaf solitary, linear-lanceolate or oblong. Flowers solitary or very few in a loose raceme, variously coloured. Dorsal sepal usually erect or incurved over the column, while the lateral petals and the other two sepals are somewhat flat and spreading. The length and shape of the petals and sepals vary considerably in the different species which are divided into easily defined sections.  … Read more