western australia

The 'elegant' (but insignificant) snail orchid

@JudyEv (381837)

Rockingham, Australia

August 31, 2024 8:45am CST

I’m sorry my last photo didn’t load. We lost internet connection at that point but we’re home again now. It’s really time I went to bed but I’ll post a quick one about the snail orchid which we saw along the way. I actually wrote about it in 2016 but hopefully you either didn’t see it then or you’ve forgotten about it by now. There are over 100 species of snail orchid but I think this one is the ‘elegant snail orchid’ (Pterostylis scitula). They are terrestrial, tuberous herbs and very insignificant. The short plants have green and white flowers. Being not at all colourful, it is easy to miss seeing them. If you look carefully, you might be able to see the 'horns' that make them look so much like a snail. I remembered where we saw them last time so was looking out for them. I called Vince and his brother to come but it took them a little while to spot them. Really, they look just like grass.

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15 responses

@wolfgirl569 (135601)

• Marion, Ohio

31 Aug 24

They would blend in easily. Glad you are safely back home.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Sep 24

Thanks. We had a good trip away although it was quite short.

2 people like this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

31 Aug 24

Not seen one before, a bit unusual looking

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Sep 24

Some of the native orchids are very unusual.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Sep 24

@Ronrybs There is one called a 'warty hammer orchid' but we haven't found one of those yet.

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@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

2 Sep 24

@JudyEv Some of the names give make me think that!

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@LadyDuck (502194)

• Italy

31 Aug 24

I forgot that you posted about snail orchid. Enlarging the photo I could see the horns. They are not particularly pretty.

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@LadyDuck (502194)

• Italy

1 Sep 24

@JudyEv May be the only orchid that is not pretty.

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@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Sep 24

They are nothing special really, either in colour or shape.

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@nela13 (59367)

• Portugal

31 Aug 24

Do they grow in water? It seems to me there are there

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Sep 24

The blue-grey behind is a tank but it's near a huge dam which has been covered over with iron. It supplies the nearby town with water.

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@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Sep 24

@nela13 Yes, I can understand that. When I looked at the photo after reading your comment I had to agree it looked like water.

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@nela13 (59367)

• Portugal

1 Sep 24

@JudyEv At first sight it seems they are on the water.

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@LindaOHio (222285)

• United States

1 Sep 24

They look kind of cool. Have a good day.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Sep 24

Thanks. It's been a good day here.

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@LindaOHio (222285)

• United States

2 Sep 24

@JudyEv You're welcome. I'm glad to hear it.

1 person likes this

@Ghostlady (2356)

• United States

31 Aug 24

Even if I saw them out in the wild, I would just think they were weeds, but looking at the picture, I see where they get their name..Thanks for sharing. I will keep my eyes more open now.

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@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Sep 24

They are native orchids so I don't think you'll see there where you are.

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@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Sep 24

@Ghostlady I know some of our eucalyptus trees that are now common in parts of America are now only nuisance value.

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@Ghostlady (2356)

• United States

1 Sep 24

@JudyEv you never know about that. We have a lot of plants here right now from China/Japan. LOL Wishing we didn't.

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@GardenGerty (169439)

• United States

31 Aug 24

I am sure every plant has its purpose. It is memorable to you if you were on the look out for it again.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Sep 24

I was pleased that I was able to find it again as it's a good few years since we were there.

1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (208759)

• United States

31 Aug 24

Do they ever bloom?

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@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Sep 24

The funny snail-shape top is the bloom.

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@rebelann (117199)

• El Paso, Texas

31 Aug 24

I think I saw 2 sets of horns.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Sep 24

Each little flower has horns but they're difficult to see in this photo.

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@Tampa_girl7 (54714)

• United States

31 Aug 24

Glad that you made it home safely.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Sep 24

Thanks. It was nice to get away for a few days.

1 person likes this

@RasmaSandra (97908)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

31 Aug 24

I like what they look like, Nice to have the memories,

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Sep 24

You have to look really hard to see the orchids as they are mostly quite small. There are not often this many together.

2 people like this

@xFiacre (14784)

• Ireland

31 Aug 24

@judyev An interesting find indeed.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Sep 24

I was pleased to find these. Finding orchids is really difficult as mostly they appear singly, are small and hard to spot.

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@Kandae11 (57233)

•

31 Aug 24

At first glance they look like birds with long legs.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Sep 24

I can see how you could think that.

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@Beestring (15373)

• Hong Kong

31 Aug 24

Yes, they are not so noticeable.

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@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Sep 24

The colour isn't anything special.

@jstory07 (148720)

• Roseburg, Oregon

2 Sep 24

They are kind of cute looking.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Sep 24

Some flowers are quite strange looking, aren't they?