LightNews — News, ranked by scholars

Glen Ryan

@silverdory.bsky.social

Small sun orchids (Thelymitra sp.) at Corunna, NSW (tip of my little finger included here for scale). Quite a bit of variation at this location with a mix of blue and pink flowers and maybe both T. pauciflora and T. peniculata represented. #orchids #ozplants #inthefield

November 1, 2026 at 9:34 PM

Susan McCreery

@susanmccreery.bsky.social

A small selection of what's flowering now in local bushland, including bonus beetle.🪲

South coast NSW.
#FlowerReport #OzPlants #WildOz

Hairy fan flower (Scaevola ramosissima). Five-petalled purple flower with hairy leaves.

Callicoma serratifolia, one genus, one species. Known as black wattle (tho it's not an acacia). Fluffy cream flower heads.

Climbing guinea flower (Hibbertia scandens). A buttery yellow five-petalled flower with a fluffy centre.

This is a tea tree (leptospermum). I think it's L. polygalifolium. Five-petalled white flowers with green waxy centres. There is a long-nosed Lycid beetle on one flower (native to eastern Oz).

November 1, 2026 at 6:49 AM

Glen Ryan

@silverdory.bsky.social

Diuris punctata (purple donkey orchid) starting to flower, East Gippsland, VIC. Was a bit early this year for the really spectacular tall plants with 4-5 flowers but still found some nice early forms up and out. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

November 1, 2026 at 2:30 AM

Glen Ryan

@silverdory.bsky.social

Short-lip Leek-orchid (Prasophyllum brevilabre) near Genoa, East Gippsland, VIC. Like all other leek orchids the flowers are 'up-side down' with the labellum at the top of the flower rather than pointing down at the bottom. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

October 31, 2026 at 12:25 AM

Glen Ryan

@silverdory.bsky.social

Diuris sulphurea (tiger or hornet orchid) near the Genoa River, VIC. These were the only yellow Diuris I saw on my last far East Gippsland day-trip - was a bit late for the early species and the tigers were a bit scarce due to the drier conditions. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

October 29, 2026 at 6:50 AM

Glen Ryan

@silverdory.bsky.social

Tailed leek orchid (Prasophyllum appendiculatum) in Croajingolong NP, East Gippsland, VIC. Regarded as endangered in VIC (rare in NSW) and often only seen after fires. But good early numbers out this spring despite the drier conditions. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants

October 27, 2026 at 8:09 PM

Glen Ryan

@silverdory.bsky.social

Thelymitra pauciflora (slender sun orchid) variations near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC - pink and blue forms flowering next to each other. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants #spring #wildflowers

Thelymitra pauciflora (slender sun orchid) near the Genoa River, East Gippsland, VIC

October 26, 2026 at 7:53 PM

Susan McCreery

@susanmccreery.bsky.social

Lilly pillies are coming into fluffy bloom round the streets of Thirroul and the bogong moths are having the time of their lives. #FlowerReport #OzPlants #WildOz

A soft pink flower half in bloom showing a mass of fluffy stamens. Syzygium 'Cascade'. A tawny brown moth is feeding en route to the alpine areas.

October 25, 2026 at 5:18 AM

Peter Thomas

@hakeafan.bsky.social

Lysiphyllum cunninghamii
Fabaceae
Bowen Developmental Rd.
Queensland Australia
23rd Oct 2026
#LysiphyllumCunninghamii #Bauhinia #Fabaceae #Flora #ozplants #ozflora #AustralianFlora #Australiannature #nature #photography #photographyofbluesky #bluesky

bie.ala.org.au/species/http...

October 25, 2026 at 3:05 AM

Peter Thomas

@hakeafan.bsky.social

Coleus diversus
Lamiaceae
Horseshoe Bay, Bowen,
Queensland, Australia
October 2026
#ColeusDiversus #Lamiaceae #Flora #ozplants #ozflora #AustralianFlora #Australiannature #nature #photography #photographyofbluesky #bluesky

October 24, 2026 at 1:43 PM

Peter Thomas

@hakeafan.bsky.social

Lysiphyllum cunninghamii
Fabaceae
Bowen Developmental Rd.
Queensland Australia
23rd Oct 2026
#LysiphyllumCunninghamii #Bauhinia #Fabaceae #Flora #ozplants #ozflora #AustralianFlora #Australiannature #nature #photography #photographyofbluesky #bluesky

bie.ala.org.au/species/http...

October 24, 2026 at 1:31 PM

Peter Thomas

@hakeafan.bsky.social

Lysiphyllum cunninghamii
Fabaceae
Bowen Developmental Rd.
Queensland Australia
23rd Oct 2026
#LysiphyllumCunninghamii #Bauhinia #Fabaceae #Flora #ozplants #ozflora #AustralianFlora #Australiannature #nature #photography #photographyofbluesky #bluesky

bie.ala.org.au/species/http...

October 24, 2026 at 2:09 AM

Peter Thomas

@hakeafan.bsky.social

Lysiphyllum cunninghamii
Fabaceae
Bowen Developmental Rd.
Queensland Australia
23rd Oct 2026
#LysiphyllumCunninghamii #Bauhinia #Fabaceae #Flora #ozplants #ozflora #AustralianFlora #Australiannature #nature #photography #photographyofbluesky #bluesky

bie.ala.org.au/species/http...

October 24, 2026 at 12:47 AM

Peter Thomas

@hakeafan.bsky.social

Seed
Abrus precatorius
Fabaceae
Horseshoe Bay, Bowen,
Queensland, Australia
October 2026
bie.ala.org.au/species/http...
#Seed #AbrusPrecatorius #Fabaceae #toxic #Flora #ozplants #ozflora #AustralianFlora #Australiannature #nature #photography #photographyofbluesky #bluesky #Queensland #Bowen

October 22, 2026 at 10:22 AM

Peter Thomas

@hakeafan.bsky.social

Cochlospermum gillivraei
(Native Kapok)
Bixaceae
Horseshoe Bay, Bowen,
Queensland, Australia
October 2026
bie.ala.org.au/species/http...
#CochlospermumGillivraei #Bixaceae #Flora #ozplants #ozflora #AustralianFlora #Australiannature #nature #photography #photographyofbluesky #bluesky

October 22, 2026 at 10:12 AM

Glen Ryan

@silverdory.bsky.social

Prasophyllum brevilabre (Short-lip Leek-orchid) near Mallacoota, VIC. In many places this species is only seen after fires but at this location the odd plant appears from time to time even in non-fire affected seasons. #orchids #inthefield #OzPLants