Local entomologist, Dr. Colin Bower otherwise known as ‘The Orchid Man’, is fuelled by his love of nature, and with that, he is finally being recognised for his discovery of two rare species of orchids on Mount Canobolas in 1988. The samples were sent to the Botanic Gardens in Canberra, to which it has now been confirmed, they are new to science and have been officially named.

Paraprasophyllum canobolense, and Caladenia boweri were the two new discoveries and it’s the Caladenia boweri that may sound oddly familiar to you, as it was named after Colin himself.

“I’ve spent a large chunk of my spare time over the last 40 years out in the bush, photographing orchids and every now and again you come across some things that are a bit different. We’ve got nearly 40 species on the mountain (Mount Canobolas), it’s very rich.

Colin explained, “When I discovered the spider orchid (Caladenia boweri) I was careful to leave the leaf and the rest of the plant there. I only ever found that one plant, I’ve never seen it again and no one else has seen it again. It’s either very, very rare, or maybe even extinct. I was a bit in two minds as to whether I should pick it and send it to Botanic Gardens. Each year after I did, I went back to the same place, to see if it would flower again. I’m absolutely still looking out for it; I know exactly where it was, and I go back to that spot. But you never know one day soon it might turn up.”

“When you are in that position of feeling like you’ve discovered a new species, that’s pretty euphoric. I’ve been lucky to have had it a few times, I’ve discovered about eight new species on Mount Canobolas. As a botanist, I was doing ecological surveys for development projects. I retired from that 18 months ago but since then I have taken up a part time position as Principal ecologist with premise here in Orange.

“When it was announced the spider orchid would be named after me, I was pretty gratified, it’s great to have your contribution recognised, (Caladenia boweri) is a really pretty one… so I guess that’s good, to have something that nice named after you” Colin laughed. “I guess I’m a bit unique in, I’ve been doing this in my spare time, I was earning a living during the week and then doing this on the weekends or during holidays essentially... ask my family about how much time I spent away from them,” Colin laughed, “I do owe a lot to them for putting up with it. Somehow it hasn’t rubbed off onto my kids.”

Colins love for all thing’s nature was said to be inspired by his Father. “He loved animals, he had bees, birds, dogs, cats, goldfish, and a large extent of that rubbed off on me. I have always been interested in natural history, I studied Zoology in University, I’ve worked as an Entomologist (insects). A lot of my time has been spent bushwalking and photographing out in the scrub, I’ve always got a camera in hand.

Some of Colins bigger contributions led him to blend together his interest of insects and orchids. “I became very interested in the pollination of orchids by insects and I actually spent a lot of time collecting the pollinators of many of our orchids. That work actually helped to discover maybe half a dozen new species of orchids.

“Sometimes when you’re out in the bush you see things that blow your mind, and they kind of stick for some reason and years and years later they resurface. I remember I was out doing some pollinator work one day and out of the corner of my eye I spotted a little movement in the grass, a little head came out and looked around and came across in front of me, and it was a little antechinus marsupial mouse, to see one in daylight march out across from me was pretty special.”

Colin urges the community to get out into nature and take in the true beauty of the mountain, (It’s certainly an aspect I’m guilty of neglecting). “I think we need to value Mount Canobolas a bit more than we do, gain an appreciation for what’s up there, it’s more than just a nice look out.”

Colin would like to thank the Orange Field Naturalist Conservation Society, David Jones and his family for their dedication and support.

Congratulations Colin.

Orchid images by Colin Bower

Orchid Species discovered by Dr Colin Bower