Nemacianthus caudatus – Mayfly Orchid
This little orchid is very similar to Acianthus pusillus but flowers in spring instead of autumn. It has similar heart-shaped leaves to Acianthus pusillus, but the flowers are very different. They are often found growing together.
The Mayfly orchid has graceful long sepals compared to a relatively small flower. The whole flower stalk is a dark red, which makes it a challenging subject to photograph in low light.
It is often found growing at the base of tress in the leaf litter, in small colonies. The flowers attracts its pollinator, a small gnat, by giving off a musty odour which we can also detect. Once pollinated, the ovaries (pictured left) swell with many tiny seeds within.