
Leaf of Red beak orchid - Pyrochis nigricans
Just because I found the orchid leaf doesn’t mean it will flower this year.
Red Beaks are usually seen as large colonies of leaves. They will occasionally flower in unburnt bushland and there are rare populations that flower every year. The vast majority, however, will patiently wait till after a hot summer fire, when they will flower en mass. It appears that their leaves get bigger each year - up to 20cm long. However, once the plants flower, the leaves return to the more usual 5-8cm long. Red Beaks are found throughout the South West in many different habitats. Plants in the Wheatbelt appear to be more likely to flower without a fire than plants in the Darling Range and lower South West.
http://chookman.id.au/wp_orchids/?page_id=752

"Pyrorchis nigricans", commonly known as red beaks, is a species of orchid endemic to Australia and is found in all Australian states except Queensland and the Northern Territory. It has a single large, oval leaf and up to eight relatively large red and white flowers. It usually only flowers after hot fires.
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