Oberonia titania
Soldier’s crest orchid, red-flowered king of the fairies
This epiphytic or lithophytic orchid grows in the rainforest and rainforest verges around Brisbane. It is locally common and you will often find dozens of this orchid in a single tree. Unless it is in flower, its small size makes this orchid easy to overlook.
There are up to 10 flattened leaves on each plant, and plants often form large clumps. Each leaf grows to 8 mm by 6 cm and is grey green to reddish.
The flower stem grows to 15 cm and is covered in hundreds of tiny red flowers, 2 mm across. This orchid is unusual in that it flowers twice a year, in both autumn and spring.
This distinctive orchid cannot be confused with any other orchid when in flower.