Orchid pods in abundance: Mitchell outback Qld

For the first time in five years our bush orchid (Cymbidium caniculatum) has produced lots of pods -- evidence of the successful pollination of the orchid flowers.

The reason is due, I believe, to the small native bees I saw busy within individual flowers. Other years I've seen a variety of insects hovering around the blooms, but never native bees.

I've read that every species of orchid is pollinated by a particular insect; that they have co-evolved in this unique way.

Now I watch the developing pods (around 80) and marvel at the production of seed so dependent on one insect and an astonishingly complex orchid flower.

Charles Darwin's passion for orchids is catching

Followers of my blog will be familiar with the orchid growing in our garden: its origins (as a half -dead (tree trunk) and half- live (clump of orchids) present), and its development from bud through to flowering. This week, my Cymbidium caniculatum is in full glorious bloom.

The name orchid usually brings to mind an exotic display in a florist's window, or lush blossoms in a damp tropical rainforest. The fact that orchids also thrive in the semi-arid country of outback Queensland is something I didn't know until we lived here.

Cymbidium caniculatum (one of about 50 Cymbidium species growing from India to Japan to Australia) has distinctive curved rigid channelled leaves which collect moisture in what is a relatively low rainfall region.

Yesterday I picked a near-perfect orchid bloom and placed it in a vase with the aim of attempting a drawing. Before putting pencil to paper, however, I broke off one of the flowers and pulled it apart: three petals and three petal-like sepals. On looking more closely I saw a column, stigma, cap, ovary and two waxy balls containing pollen. One of the petals, the lip, was larger than the rest, and white. Its purpose is to attract pollinating insects (usually a bee) and then to provide a landing platform -- rather like an airport runway.

My interest in orchids began when I was offered the opportunity to research and write a book about Charles Darwin. Several years later Charles Darwin's Big Idea was published by Hyland House in Melbourne, and was shortlisted in the CBC Awards.

During my research, I became aware of Darwin's fascination with orchids -- and it was catching! Of particular interest to me was the fact that each orchid species attracts its own special kind of insect for pollination.

With up to 60 flowers on each flower spike, the bees are busy around my clump of orchids!

Bush orchid forms flower spikes

A couple of years ago, a close friend gave me a 'half-dead, half-alive' surprise present -- two clumps of bush orchids (Cymbidium caniculatum) growing on a dead ooline trunk. The present was moved from their cattle property to our garden here in Mitchell, to a position by the kitchen window where we would see it often.

Every year -- in the spring -- it has flowered and formed seed pods, with this year promising a spectacular display.

As the season progresses, I'll keep you up-to-date with the development of the flower spikes. For now though, around 30 flower spikes have formed, each with their rows of tight little buds -- promises of things to come.