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S.A. XAT., VOL. XIV. 
No\ember, 1932 . 
THE ORCHIDS OF COROMANDEL VALLEY, SA . 
By Harold Goldsack. 
The distribution of orchids is of interest to all nature lovera 
and these notes will show the surprising number of species that 
can be found in a small district during the year. 
The locality I am dealing with lies between the southern 
end of Coromandel Valley and the north-eastern corner of Happy 
Vahey Reservoir, being bounded on the northern side by the 
Sturt Creek, and on the southern by a road which joins 
Coromandel Valley with the main South Road. This area 
■emprises approximately one square mile and a half. Most of 
the ground is thickly covered with Peppermint Gum {Eucalyptus 
odorata) with scattered patches of Yacca {Xanthorrhoea semi- 
plana), while in the gullies are several species of larger 
Eucalypts. Large sandy patches contain a lower and more bushy 
type of scrub, and it is among these plants that the orchids thrive 
best. 
September and October are the orchid months par excellence. 
During these months I have found 19 and 25 species respectively. 
January, February, and March arc very lean times for orchid 
collecting here, and the only species to look for is Dipodium 
punctatum, R.Br.; even this one is missing from my list, but 
can be found at Cherry Gardens a few miles away, and so may 
possibly occur here. 
April, 3 species; May, 4; June, 6; July, 9; August, 8; 
November,. 13, and December 2, show the way In which the 
flowering period is spread out. Naturally, one particular species 
will flow’er for two or three consecutive months, and this 
should be remembered when considering these figures. 
In the following list of species I will adhere to the order in 
which Dr. R. S. Rogers places them in J. M. Black’s ‘‘Flora of 
South Australia/’ to enable those interested to look up their 
descriptions easily. 
Calochilus Robertsonii, Benth, One plant of this beautifully- 
bearded orchid was found by the banks of the Sturt Creek. 
Thelymitra liiteociliata, Fitzg. occurs plentifully, but never 
makes an attractive picture owing to the fact that the flowers 
seldom open. In cold weather many never do open, and yet set 
iced readily, being self-fertilized, 
T. grandifloraj Fitzg. Is but lightly distributed, 
r. aristaia, Lindl, in my opinion is our most beautiful 
Thelymitra. The flowers open readBy in dull sunshine, and 
tbeir fragrance is delightful. 
