The Orchids of the National Par\ 
By Harold Goldsack 
30 universal is the interest in orchids that no apology is needed 
for including a section devoted solely to this fascinating 
family, many members of which are found in the National Park. 
Owing to the National Park having been greatly favoured 
as a collecting ground in the ^ast by botanists and others 
interested in our native flora, quite a large number of species of 
orchids have been found in that locality. It remained for Dr. 
R. S. Rogers, of Adelaide, with his untiring enthusiasm for these 
beautiful plants, to make a complete collection of all the species 
found in the park, and incorporate them in his tables of the 
Orchidaceae in Black's Flora of South Australia. In this book 
the student and nature lover will find excellent descriptions of 
all our orchids, together with the names of the localities where 
they are to be found. 
Popular names for flowers are by no means as helpful as 
one would expect. If we try to describe members of the genus 
Caladenia by the name of Spider Orchids we may form in our 
minds a picture which, while fairly correct for some of the 
species, gives us no help at all in determining other species of 
the genus. 
We find eight species of Caladenia at the National Park, 
but of these four only are definitely spider-like. The very 
beautiful C. dilatata, with its large green and maroon labellum, is 
quite common and is a favourite with all. Also very common is 
the small blue C. deformis, with the densely hairy tongue. It is 
the earliest of our Caladenias to flower and shows little resem- 
blance to a spider. Occasionally we will come across a flower of 
the White Spider Orchid, C. Patersonii . Even in protected areas, 
such as the National Park, this very beautiful species shows little 
inclination to grow in any large numbers. 
Glossodia major, the Waxlip or Cockatoo Orchid as it is 
sometimes called, is another showy plant. Its bright purple 
flower, with purple and white lip, is often present in large num- 
bers and adds a touch of brightness to many parts of the park. 
Two kinds of Mosquito Orchid are found here, often form- 
ing large colonies at the butts of trees. The large one is named 
Acianthus reniformis and the small A. exsertus. Both species are 
winter flowering. 
Pace Fifty- two 
