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Cinnamon Bells
Gastrodia sesamoides R.Br. 1810

Notes

The Cinnamon Bells, also known as the Common Potato Orchid, is one of several species of Potato Orchid native to south-eastern Australia. The orchids grow in moist, loamy soils, often in deep leaf litter, in high-rainfall forests. The flowering period ranges from spring until early summer. As Cinnamon Bells retrieve all of their nutrients and energy from fungi in the soil, they are entirely brown and leafless and often grow in dark, shady areas of the forest where there is little sunlight at ground level.

Cinnamon Bells are generally common and widespread throughout south-eastern Australia, occurring from south-eastern QLD across eastern NSW, the ACT, eastern and southern VIC, south-eastern SA (including Kangaroo Island) and most of TAS. They are also native to New Zealand and have been accidentally introduced to South Africa where they occur in native forest in the vicinity of Cape Town. While very similar in appearance to other species of Potato Orchid, the Cinnamon Bells are by far the most common and widespread species across most of south-eastern Australia and for that reason fairly easy to identify.

Photos

Gastrodia sesamoides
View of the inflorescence, with the individual flowers still closed. (Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, 11 / 11 / 2018)
Gastrodia sesamoides
The long, slender flower stems are entirely brown and leafless. (Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, 11 / 11 / 2018)

References