Hi again,

 

We encountered many orchids in West Papua. Few that were in flower, and I managed to get at least some of them photographed. Most have been identified, at least to Genus level so far. Underneath each I have noted the location of the photo. Quite possibly, some are undescribed new species.

 

Glossorhyncha sp. Tembagapura, cloud forest

 

 

"Red Squid Orchid" So far totally unidentified- likely new species! No expert has yet come up with a name.

It is a Dendrobium of sorts. Tembagapura, cloud forest

 

Spathoglottis sp - Tembagapura, heathland

 

Aglossorhyncha sp. Tembagapura, town area

 

Spathoglottis sp. Freshwater swamp, Timika

 

Dendrobium finnesteriae. Wamena, Baliem Valley

 

Epiblastis basalis. Wamena, Baliem Valley

 

Coelgyne sp. Kuala Kencana, Lowland Rainforest

 

 

The following are flowers seen on the Zaagham walk, through the cloud forests of Tembagapura. More details of that outing later. For now, enjoy these. The white one with the purple centre (second one) is a violet of sorts. The first one is a carnivorous bladderwort that uses its root system to trap small aquatic animals.

 

   

 

 

 

Also on the walk, Colin Tilbury showed us a Pitcher Plant. For those unfamiliar with these bizzare plants, they have a jug-like structure, which traps anything unlucky enough to fall in, then digests it. Waxy surfaces covered with downward pointing hairs inside make escape near impossible. The lid prevents rainwater diluting the liquid contents.

Possibly an escaped garden plant, these were prolific around Tembagapura. An orchid expert told me that they may however be native

When we went exploring with the Kamoro people of the coastal lowlands to the south, we saw all sorts of things, some of the plants encountered were the following, all found deep in rainforest. More detail on the short expedition coming soon, with more pictures. Stay tuned.

 

   

Flame of Papua

 

Flowers covering the forest floor