Blue Mountains National Park wildflowers - Pea Flowers, Orchids, Lilies & Irises

(click images to see larger ones)

Blue Mountains Wildflowers

Pea Flowers, Orchids, Lilies & Irises

Spotted Sun Orchid

With over 1,100 species, the Pea Flower family (Fabaceae) is one of the largest in Australia.

There are about 1,000 species of Orchids (family Orchidaceae) in Australia and as many as 35,000 species worldwide - making it the world's largest flower family.

Most of the Australian Lily species (family Liliaceae) have recently been reclassified into a dozen or so other botanical families.

The Iris family (Iridaceae) is represented throughout the world by freesias, gladiolis and irises - and in Australia by the Genus Patersonia.

Index to our collection -

Orchids
Bird's-mouth Orchid
Chocolate-Lip Leafy Greenhood
Dusky Fingers
Eastern Tiny Blue China Orchid
Large Duck Orchid
Large Tongue Orchid
Native Potato
Nodding Greenhood
Pink Fingers
Red Beardie
Slender Sun Orchid
Small Waxlip Orchid
Spotted Sun Orchid
Tall Leek Orchid

Lilies
Agapanthus *
Alania endlicheri
Branching Fringe Lily
Common Fringe Lily
Golden Weather-grass
Milkmaids
Mountain Christmas Bell
Nodding Chocolate Lily
Rush Lily
Tufted Blue-lily

Irises
Blue Pigroot *
Dwarf Purple Flag
Leafy Purple Flag
Pretty Grass-flag
Silky Purple Flag
Swamp Iris

* Introduced species (weed)

Pea Flowers - family Fabaceae

Pea flowers have five petals -

the standard or banner
two wings
two petals that are usually fused together and referred to as the keel.

Bossiaea genus

Sword Bossiaea
Bossiaea ensata

This low sprawling plant has no leaves. Its green keel, and the red at the back of the standard, is a good way to identify it - see large image. Its flat stems are 4-5mm wide; the flowers 10mm across.

Variable Bossiaea
Bossiaea heterophylla

Flowering in Autumn, this, plus its variable leaves and largish crimson keel identify it. The leaves vary on the plant and may be ovate or thin, and also vary in size.

Daviesia genus

Gorse Bitter Pea
Daviesia ulicifolia

This common pea flower is characterised by its sharp but flat leaves and sharp branches (spines). It flowers in spring.

Clustered Bitter-pea
Daviesia corymbosa

A stunning display of dark yellow and crimson pea flowers clustered together.

Winged Bitter Pea
Daviesia alata

Its orange pea flowers and strap like leaves identify it. The flowers are 6mm wide.

Dillwynia genus

Dillwynia brunioides

Sadly, this beautiful plant has no common name. The flowers are about 13mm wide and the warty leaves 7-8mm long.
Here's another image that shows the more usual spreading leaves.

Dillwynia elegans

The broad standard identifies it as a Dillwynia species. Dillwynia elegans is identified by its terete (cylindrical), glabrous (non-hairy) and warty leaves that have a point that is occasionally bent, and its glabrous calyx.
It was formerly called Dillwynia floribunda var. teretifolia.

Heathy Parrot Pea
Dillwynia retorta

Probably the most common Dillwynia, it is recognised by its twisted leaves
Here's another image showing it being eaten by what looks like a weevil.
[There's an estimated 80,000 beetle species in Australia.]

Gompholobium genus - Golden Glory Peas

There's 11 species of Gompholobium in NSW - 10 of which can be found in the Blue Mountains.

Large Wedge Pea
Gompholobium grandiflorum

Distinguished from its siblings by its sets of three heavily recurved leaves.
The flowers are 20mm wide.

Dainty Wedge Pea
Gompholobium glabratum

Its 10mm wide flowers have the most beautiful yellow colour. It is identified by its pinnate leaves and warty stems.
Here's another image.

Broad-leaf Wedge Pea
Gompholobium latifolium

Identified by its broad leaves - well, broader than the Large Wedge Pea - and its ciliate (hairy) keel.
Growing up to 3 metres in height, it is the largest of the Wedge Peas.

Dwarf Wedge Pea
Gompholobium minus

The apex (ends) of its leaves are strongly recurved (bent) and they have a point.
Its flowers are 7mm wide.

Red Wedge Pea
Gompholobium uncinatum

Its red-orange flowers and 3-foliolate recurved leaves help identify this small plant.
Here's another image.

Creeping Wedge-pea
Gompholobium inconspicuum

This small "inconspicuous" plant is identified by its prostrate form and warty stems.
Here's another image.

Hovea genus

There's 20 species of Hovea in NSW - 8 of which can be found in the Blue Mountains.

Common Hovea
Hovea linearis

Flowering in late winter, this beautiful pea flower is also known as the Erect Hovea or Blue Bonnet. The latter being a delightful name.

Rusty Pods
Hovea longifolia

Identified by its very hairy sepals. Its narrow leaves are up to 8cm in length.
This image shows the distinctive underside of its leaves.
Here's another image of Rusty Pods.

Mirbelia genus

Heathy Mirbelia
Mirbelia rubiifolia

The pink pea flowers and heavily "veined" leaves identify this delightful small plant.
The 10-20mm leaves are in threes along the stem.
Here's a white variant.

Large-flowered Mirbelia
Mirbelia platylobioides

Historically called Mirbelia grandiflora it also exhibits the heavily veined leaves of its sibling to the immediate left.
The flower is 10-12mm wide.
Here's another image. [Note: The name "Large-flowered Mirbelia" is not commonly accepted.]

Mirbelia baueri

The flowers are 10mm long & wide. The plant shown here had upturned wings and was prostrate; its 8-10mm leaves were smooth with a ridge on the top.
Here's another image.

Pultenaea genus - Bush Peas

Rough Bush-pea
Pultenaea scabra

Identified by its squared-off leaves that have weak mucro, and the tell-tale stipules that characterises the Pultenaea genus.
[Stipules are the small leafy growth at the base of leaves.]

Halo Bush-pea
Pultenaea linophylla

A small scraggy plant whose spring flowers are about 6mm across and have a red keel.
Its leaves are 10mm long, have a down-turned tip and are hairy underneath.
It is also known as the Small-leaved Bush-pea.

Pultenaea canescens

Only found in the upper Blue Mountains, it is identified by its hairy concave leaves and yellow keel. Its bracteole is reddish brown which helps distinguish it from P. tuberculata (which has a red keel).

Phyllota genus

There's 4 species of Phyllota in NSW - 3 of which can be found in the Blue Mountains.

Dense Phyllota
Phyllota squarrosa

Yet another stunning pea-flower. It is separated from its siblings by its yellow mucro (leaf tip).
Its elongated standard is 8mm high, and its leaf margins revolute (rolled-back).

Heath Phyllota
Phyllota grandiflora

Its tall standard helps identify it as a Phyllota species.
The densely villous (hairy) calyx shows it to be P. grandiflora.
Here's another image.

other peaflower genera

Purple Coral Pea
Hardenbergia violacea

Easy to identify as it is most probably the only purple peaflower climber.
Its flowers are 8mm across. Commercially it is known as the Happy Wanderer.
Here's an image of its leaves.

Leafless Globe-pea
Sphaerolobium minus

Differentiated from S. vimineum by its shorter wings that expose its keel, and having only a hint of red on some flowers, and none on most.
The flowers are barely 5mm wide and long.

Native Holly
Podolobium ilicifolium

Easily identified by its holly like leaves, it is also known as the Prickly Shaggy Pea. Shaggy Pea being the common name of the Podolobium genus.

Handsome Flat Pea
Platylobium formosum
subsp. parviflorum

Recognised by the prominent veins on its leaves. The back of the standard is red.
Subsp. parviflorum has long leaves; whereas subsp. formosum's leaves are roundish.

Australian Indigo
Indigofera australis

Found throughout Australia, its pink flowers and grey leaves help identify it.

Gorse
Ulex europaeus

Introduced species (weed)

This declared noxious weed is identified by its very hairy keel and spines.

Dusky Coral Pea
Kennedia rubicunda

Distinctive climber with dark red flowers and 3-foliolate leaves.
Here's another image.

Orchids - family Orchidaceae.

Large Tongue Orchid
Cryptostylis subulata

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.

Large Duck Orchid
Caleana major

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.

Native Potato
Gastrodia sesamoides

On first appearance it looks like a withered orchid - but its light brown flowers and stems are its natural colours. Also known as Cinnamon Bells.

Pink Fingers
Caladenia carnea

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.

Dusky Fingers
Caladenia fuscata

Flowering in early Spring, Dusky Fingers' sepals and petals are less than 7mm long.
Here is an image showing its distinguishing characteristics.

Slender Sun Orchid
Thelymitra pauciflora

A small orchid about 12mm wide. Its petal-like labellum is narrower than the other petals & sepals.
Here's a paler form.

Spotted Sun Orchid
Thelymitra ixioides var. ixioides

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.

Small Waxlip Orchid
Glossodia minor

A small orchid that is 20mm wide. The flower stem is leafless - the leaf leaving the stem near the ground.

Tall Leek Orchid
Prasophyllum elatum

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.

Nodding Greenhood Orchid
Pterostylis nutans

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.

Chocolate-Lip Leafy Greenhood
Bunochilus chocolatinus

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

Red Beardie
Calochilus paludosus

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.

Eastern Tiny Blue
China Orchid
Cyanicula caerulea

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.

Bird's-mouth Orchid
Orthoceras strictum

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.

Lilies

Branching Fringe Lily
Thysanotus juncifolius

[Family ANTHERICACEAE]

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.

Common Fringe Lily
Thysanotus tuberosus
subsp. tuberosus

[Family ANTHERICACEAE]

Very similar to the Branching Fringe Lily (T. juncifolius), but it has very long basal leaves - as this image shows.

Rush Lily
Sowerbaea juncea

[Family ANTHERICACEAE]

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.

Nodding Chocolate Lily
Dichopogon fimbriatus

[Family ANTHERICACEAE]

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 the double appendage at the end of its anther.
Apparently it has a chocolate scent - which I will sense next season.
Here's another image.
[The stamen consists of an anther and a filament (stalk).]

Tufted Blue-lily
Thelionema caespitosum

[Family PHORMIACEAE]

Distinguished from the Dianella and Stypandra genera by its upward facing flowers and coiled anthers.
There are three species in this genus. T. umbellatum has white flowers; T. grande isn't found in the Blue Mountains.
The flowers are 25mm across and appear in spring and summer.

Alania endlicheri

[Family BORYACEAE]

This tiny (4 mm wide) summer flowering lily is found on damp cliff faces.
It is the only species in the genus.

Mountain Christmas Bell
Blandfordia cunninghamii

[Family BLANDFORDIACEAE]

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.

Milkmaids
Burchardia umbellata

[Family COLCHICACEAE]

Its umbel* helps identify it and distinguish it from other family members. This image shows the umbel. Here's another image.
Its flowers are 15mm wide.
[umbel* - flowers or flower stalks arise from one point.]

Agapanthus
Agapanthus praecox subsp. orientalis

[Family ALLIACEAE]

Introduced species (weed)

Spectacular large flowers in summer, it is an indestructable 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.
Also known as African Lily and Lily of the Nile.

Golden Weather-grass
Hypoxis hygrometrica

[Family HYPOXIDACEAE]

Also known as yellow stars, the flower has a 25mm wing-span.

Irises - family Iridaceae.

In NSW, there are 4 species of the Patersonia genus, all are found in the Blue Mountains.

Dwarf Purple Flag
Patersonia longifolia

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.

Silky Purple Flag
Patersonia sericea

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.

Leafy Purple Flag
Patersonia glabrata

The Leafy Purple Flag's flowers and leaves
are borne on a stem.
Like its siblings, its flowers last barely a day.

Swamp Iris
Patersonia fragilis

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.

Pretty Grass-flag
Libertia pulchella

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.]

Blue Pigroot
Sisyrinchium micranthum

Introduced species (weed)

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.