The following article is taken from the Banksia Bulletin - summer 2024-25 edition. Photo by Pauline Reynolds.
An amazing discovery was made by the Royal Melbourne Golf Club (RMGC)'s horticulturalist Stuart Moodie in October.
Stuart knows the courses like the back of his hand but can still be surprised. While inspecting one of the best areas of remnant vegetation he came across a tiny orchid that he has never seen before, and that has not previously been recorded anywhere in Bayside.
The orchid, a musky caladenia (Caladenia moschata), lasted in bloom for only a few days so it was indeed most fortunate that Stuart spotted it, and an identity could be confirmed and photographs taken.
There was one flowering stem bearing three flowers and now the plant has disappeared back into the ground with its location noted.
When will it consider the conditions perfect to appear again? You never know what could be found in the bush and heathland areas.
