We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which these plants grow - the Darug and Gundungurra people - and pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.
In dividing the flora of the Blue Mountains into groups to facilitate identification and simplify presentation, it was natural to chose botanic families of orchids, irises and lilies that primarily belong to the Asparagales order.
It should be noted that the genus, family and order a plant belongs to is not static. As recently as 40 years ago the lily family (Liliaceae) had 300 genera and 4,500 species worldwide. It now has 15 genera and 700 species with no species indigenous to Australia.
The new families that were once in the Liliaceae family are presented below.
Including all species from the Asparagales order also introduces some strange bedfellows - like the Lomandra (mat-rushes) and Xanthorrhoea (grass trees) genera. But by and large this grouping works.
There's over 200 species of the Asparagales order in the Blue Mountains.
Orchids (Orchidaceae family)
Spotted Sun Orchid (Thelymitra ixioides)
There are about 1,000 species of Orchids (Orchidaceae family) in Australia and as many as 35,000 species worldwide - making it the world's largest flower family.
Although Orchids vary greatly in form, colour and size, their flowers are composed of 6 segments.
The outer 3 segments are the sepals; and inner three segments are the petals.
The third petal becoming a lip or labellum.
There are well over 130 species of the Orchidaceae family in the Blue Mountains across 30 genera - but it is volatile as new species and species new to the area are being discovered, and species and genera are being reclassified. Hybrids also abound.
Irises(Iridaceae family)
Swamp Iris (Patersonia fragilis)
The Iris family (Iridaceae) is represented throughout the world by freesias, gladiolis and irises. Saffron (Crocus sativus) is also a member of the Iris family.
There's some 20 species in the Blue Mountains, but with the exception of six Patersonia and Libertia species, all are introduced.
Lilies(formerly the Liliaceae family)
Branching Fringe Lily (Thysanotus juncifolius)
Most of the Australian Lily species have been reclassified into a dozen or so other botanical families.
The more common families found in the Blue Mountains, and a "representative", are -
Also known as the Duck Orchid due to its bill or tongue like labellum - which is around 30mm in length. The sepals and other petals are small and spike like.
Resembling a duck in flight, with its sepals for wings, its labellum as its head and its column for a body. This small orchid's labellum snaps shut against the column trapping the visiting insect and turning it into a pollinator.
A small orchid that is 20-30mm across whose colour varies from near white to dark pink.
Here is an image showing its distinguishing characteristics.
NSW Flora Online says that Caladenia carnea
"hybridizes with C. catenata and C. fuscata, so larger populations may incorporate confusing hybrid swarms."
just what the amateur botanist wants to hear ...
C. catenata isn't found in the Upper Blue Mountains, and as far as I can ascertain -
C. carnea's labellum lobe doesn't protrude, its labellum tip is
yellow and it tends to be pinker.
C. fuscata's labellum lobe protrudes and its labellum tip is white,
and it is smaller.
Also known as the Blue Sun Orchid, it has dark blue dots on its upper three segments. The flower is 25mm wide, but needs a sunny day to open.
It is best identified by the finger like papillae as not all Spotted Sun Orchids have spots.
Also known as the Piano Orchid, this orchid occurs in all other Australian States except the North Territory. Its long leaf stem can be seen in the
background.
One of the more easily recognised Greenhoods due to its nodding stance. It appears from late Autumn through to Spring.
The 3-6 leaves of its rosette have scalloped edges.
Similar to the Tall Greenhood this Central Tableland's species is distinguished by its milk chocolate coloured labellum.
The Tall Greenhood's labellum is also hairy. There's no rosette.
The Leafy Greenhoods have been placed in a new genera - Bunochilus
Also known as the Red Beard Orchid, it is distinguished from its siblings by the lack of glands on its "collars".
Its long, exposed and bent labellum is another key.
Here's another image.
This small orchid is barely 20mm wide and was found in the Kedumba Valley. It is also known as the Blue Caladenia as it was until recently in the Caladenia genus.
It is the only Cyanicula species in NSW.
Also known as the Horned Orchid, it is the only species in this genus in Australia.
Although the plant is about 50cm tall, its colours camouflage it well.
Here's another image.
It can be distinguished by its leaves - which are bluish-green, very narrow (2mm), sometimes twisted and have hairs crisscrossing them.
The flowers also seem to be a deeper purple.
Its 50mm flowers appear in spring and early summer. It can be identified by the silky hairs on its spathe (bud), wider leaves (5mm) and its flower stems
coming from its fan-like base.
Found in damp sheltered areas, it is identified by the lack of hairs on the flower's spathe and the layout of the
base of the plant.
The light blue tepals are 20mm long.
Found in wet sheltered areas.
Distinguished from the Branching Grass-flag (L. paniculata) as that plant's leaves are longer than its scape* and its pedicels (stalks) are only 1cm long.
This is shown in the full image of the Pretty Grass-flag, and this image showing its 3cm long pedicels.
[* scape - the stem-like flowering stalk.]
This easily identified plant is a native of Mexico. It is less than 2cm wide and its petals are striped underneath.
It has distinctive seed capsules that are 6mm in diameter.
Our Lilies Showcase - formerly the Liliaceae family
This spring and summer flowering lily has a downward facing light blue flower that is 8mm wide.
It is identified by its bent filaments and double appendage at the end of its anther.
Apparently it has a chocolate scent.
Here's another image.
[The stamen consists of an anther and a filament.]
Its striking floral display easily identifies this Lomandra.
Here's a close-up of its inflorescence - which is 3cm across.
Here's another image of the plant.
Flowering in spring and liking damp heath, it is also known as the Vanilla Lily due to its scent.
It is the only species of this genus in NSW.
Here's two more images - one showing the flower open; the other showing the many flowers in a cluster.
The fringe on the petals of this small (20mm) flower is stunning.
Distinguished from the Common Fringe Lily (T. tuberosus) by the absence of basal leaves - as this image shows.
Distinguished from the Dianella and Stypandra genera by its upward facing flowers and coiled anthers.
The flowers are 25mm across and appear in spring and summer.
This tiny (4 mm wide) summer flowering lily is found on damp cliff faces.
It is the only species in the genus and the only species in this family in NSW.
Here's another image showing its leaves.
This threatened species is distinguished from the other Christmas Bells by its many (more than a dozen in a cluster) 6cm long flowers.
It grows along cliff edges in early summer.
Spectacular large flowers in summer, it is an indestructible weed that is marching from the villages into the national park.
Its tuberous rootstock is hard to completely remove. Here's an image of its leaves.