WA Orchid Adventures

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Introduction

Well I have finally decided to take the leap and record my orchid travels, discoveries and photos in a BLOG

Well I have finally decided to take the leap and record my orchid travels, discoveries and photos in a BLOG so that others may choose to join in my adventures, looking for what I feel are an amazing family of flowering plants that have so many varieties, colours, shapes and sizes that one can not help but be amazed by them. In Western Australia there are two distinct areas that native orchids are found. The South West of Western Australia and in the north starting in the Kimberley. My BLOG will focus on the South West terrestrial orchids due to the massive size of my home state of Western Australia.

Orchidaceae is the family name in scientific speak however I will be using the common name of “Orchid” in my posts. In Western Australia the South West orchid territory ranges from Shark Bay in the Midwest on a diagonal line to Kalgoorlie in the Goldfields and eastwards to Eyre on the Nullarbor plain including the entire South West, Great Southern, South Coastal and Wheatbelt regions.

In this Southern region 28 different genera and over 400 species are found with many yet to be formally named, so as you can imagine tracking down all of these will provide years of adventures for me to fill up my BLOG.

Please note I am a self-taught amateur in Orchid location, Orchid identification and Orchid photography so I would ask for your understanding if I may get it wrong, and would appreciate your feedback, notes and comments to help this little BLOG grow and develop just as my wonderful Orchids do in this great state of Western Australia.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Cowslip Orchids (Caladenia flava *subsp.* flava)

Dwellingup to Wagin

13/08/2017

After enjoying a wonderful lunch with my brother Geoff and his wife Robyn we make tracks for the long trip back to Esperance. Leaving Dwellingup our first stop is the cemetery. Nothing in flower found, so off to Inglehope Arboretum which also turned up flowerless. Not looking very promising, but we make one more stop on the Pinjarra-Williams Rd in the Boddington shire to give the Jarrah forest one more chance to show us what it has to offer.

I check the South side of the road and Deb heads North. My side was burnt and I found a few leaves but nothing in flower. In a break between the noise of passing cars Deb informs me she has found some very tall snail orchids. New find for the season, Slender snail orchid (Pterostylis sp. ‘crinkled leaf’). These are found late June to September between Perth and Albany.

Hood of snails under Zamia palm (Macrozamia dyeri)

Pterostylis sp. ‘crinkled leaf’

Shot of the crinkled leaf rosette

Full length shot of the snail orchid

As I’m taking photos of the snail orchids Deb moves on a finds Mosquito orchids. As I walk in her direction I too find one which appears to be Mosquito orchid. I take photos of my orchid then head over to Deb. Her orchids are much duller and greener in colour so a closer inspection confirms we have made a brand new discovery. Midge orchid (Cyrtostylis huegelli) is the correct species as the labellum is much thinner than the broad one on the Mosquito orchid. These orchids are found July through September and range from Kalbarri to east of Esperance.

Cyrtostylis huegelli – full length shot

Dull red colour but labellum thinner than related Mosquito orchid

A greener version with more flowers in the inflorescence

Another busy inflorescence

Another full flower shot

We now move on as we have limited daylight due to the fact we left Dwellingup around 2pm. At least we found something in the Jarrah forest closer to Dwellingup. Our next stop is still Jarrah/Marri forest however is closer to Quindanning. This spot never fails to disappoint. We find Banded greenhoods (Pterostylis vittata) and Little pink fairy orchids (Caladenia reptans subsp. reptans). Little pink faires are found July to October from Northampton to Esperance.

Pterostylis vittata

Solo flower

Out comes the sunshine

Caladenia reptans subsp. reptans

Very bent over flower. It’s leaf is in the background

Paler pink

Also found are more Slender snail orchids (with the lateral sepals nibbled down) an unopened Jug orchid and Donkey orchids. Common donkey orchid (Diuris corymbosa) which are found August to October from Gingin to Bunbury.

Diuris corymbosa

Dark colouring with hanging lateral sepals

Front on shot

Lateral sepals nipped which tricked me into thinking it was another species.

Shot showing off the stem leaves

Crinkled leaves confirms species

Another one not opened

Moving along we next stop at Mud Map SE 11 location on Williams-Kondinin Rd. Here we find our first Cowslip orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. flava), in flower for the season. These are found July through December from Geraldton to Israelite Bay.

Caladenia falva subsp. flava

Herd shot

The most prolific orchid found was another donkey orchid. Small flowered donkey orchid (Diuris porrifolia) which are found late July through September from Perth to Boyup Brook, however Florabase confirms sightings in Local Govt areas of Williams and Narrogin. Our site being in between these 2 towns I am confident of identification.

Donkey orchids have multiple leaves from which the flower grows

Size comparison with my index finger

Group shot

Colourful flowers

Diuris porrifolia

Also found were Banded greenhoods and Jug orchid (Pterostylis recurva) finally open.

Pterostylis vittata

Finally a Jug orchid that has fully opened

Moving on to another Mud Map SE 13 location which will be our last stop as it is getting late. (5.15pm) We race around for the next 30 minutes and find 8 different species which is amazing. Those already found today include : Slender snail orchid, Little pink fairy orchid, Banded greenhood, Small flowered donkey orchid and Cowslip orchid.

Profile shot

Local hood

Densely packed inflorescence

The only one found in flower at this location

Four header

Low light required flash.. Size comparison to Deb’s iPhone

Very small flower..the only one found in this location

Now for the new finds of today: Dark banded greenhood (Pterostylis sanguinea), Cupped banded greenhood (Pterostylis concava) and Crowded banded greenhood (Pterostylis sp. ‘crowded’). The Cupped and Crowded are brand new finds for us in fact. The Cupped are found June to August from Bindoon to Mt Barker whilst the Crowded are found July to September between Katanning and Wongan Hills.

Pterostylis sanguinea

Pterostylis concava – Near the end of it’s season..top flower only showing the cupped lateral sepals

Pterostylis sp. ‘crowded’ – Very dark brown white banded flowers, broad lateral sepals and flowers crowded to the top of the stem

could be either Dark or Cupped

Light is fading fast so we make tracks for Esperance. We arrive home just before midnight….

Road trip to Perth

An early morning start for the long haul from Esperance to Perth. First stop was at Pallarup Rock N.R. It was just after 7am and it was freezing. There was a lot of water around so I had to watch my step. First orchid found was a little Blue beard or Blue fairy orchid (Pheladenia deformis). Took a pic and then ventured across the flowing water onto the granite rock. Some more Blue beards found and then further

Pheladenia deformis

Side profile

into the scrub some yellow caught my eye. Donkey orchids. Now which type??

sorry for the average quality of this photo

Diuris sp. ‘western wheatbelt’

I believe them to be Western wheatbelt donkey orchid (Diuris sp. ‘western wheatbelt’) which occur July through September and range from York to Ravensthorpe. Walking back more Blue Beards and Donkey orchids are found as was a lone Jug orchid yet to fully develop.

Waiting for his friends to open

Showing the beard

Getting close to opening

Cold morning dew/frost showing on this flower

Full length shot

On the track back to the sealed road I spy one poor specimen of a Snail orchid

Covered in dew

My next stop for a quick orchid hunt is the Lookout at Lake Grace. As expected I found some Wispy spider orchids. Also as expected it is too hard to attempt to identify them all but I believe two types to be Chameleon spider orchid (Caladenia dimidia) and Common spider orchid (Caladenia vulgata). The Chameleon is found July to September from Paynes Find to Norseman whilst the Common is found July to October from Kalbarri to Esperance.

Profile shot

Size comparison with index finger

Caladenia dimidia

Caladenia vulgata

Erect dorsal sepal and shorter stiffly held petals and lateral sepals

Full flower shot

Red variant

Also found up here were Dark banded greenhood (Pterostylis sanguinea), Jug orchid and another Donkey orchid.

Group of greenhoods

Pterostylis recurva yet to open

Pterostylis sanguinea

Unsure of species

Moving on, the next quick check was on the Piesseville Tarwonga Rd turn-off. There were so many Caladenia orchids in bud, but could not for the life of me find one in flower. In the ditch to the side of the road I found many snail orchids, including Hairy-stemmed snail orchid (Pterosylis sp. ‘inland’) and whilst photographing them I also found some Banded greenhoods (Pterostylis vittata) and Dark banded greenhoods.

Nice busy inflorescence

Hairy-stemmed snail orchid

Solo flower

Missing a lateral sepal

Full length shot

On Albany Hwy just past Williams I was stuck behind a slow moving truck, so I decided to check out the Williams Nature Reserve. It was a promising place however I was running out of time, so a few quick checks before heading off to meet up with Deb and Kirstie in Perth. Only found some great Dark banded greenhood specimens.

Nicely balanced inflorescence

In bright sunshine

Boyatup – 1st visit of the 17/18 Season

30/7/2017

Mid morning we head off along Fisheries Road east to Boyatup. Our first point of call is a gravel pit just past where the bitumen runs out. After driving slowly in and checking the spot where we found Redbeaks last year, we come up empty, with nothing worthy found. So we head back to Boyatup Hill ( Mud Map SE 40 ) and head in on the track. First find is a Donkey Orchid which has something foreign stuck on it’s labellum, while his stem mate has his labellum nibbled off a bit. Green Range donkey orchid (Diuris sp. ‘Green Range’).

Imperfect twins

Labellum nipped

Labellum with a foreign object wedged in

Further along the track Deb spots the first Spider orchid, so we park up and have a good look around. Western wispy spider orchid (Caladenia microchila) is the only species I am certain of that is included in our finds, however they would all belong to the Filamentosa complex.

Note the very small labellum

Caladenia microchila

Size comparison to a 50c coin

Exact species ???

Profile comparison photos – Wispy spider orchids, unsure of exact species though.

Another profile for comparison

Profile shot

Whilst I am on the ground taking photos Deb yells with excitement. She has found the first King Spider orchid of this season, in full flower. Only the one, but a great find. Esperance king spider orchid (Caladenia decora)

Close-up

Caladenia decora

Many more variations of Wispy spider orchids found so had to take more snaps

great iPhone pic

Short petals and sepals

Exact species????

Only found in 3s never more

Stiffer petals and sepals

Showing the roughness of the petals and sepals

Size comparison with 20c coin

Species???

Further along the track we finally find some different orchids. Deb spots the first fully formed Jug Orchid (Pterostylis recurva). A sole snail orchid of unknown species is also found.

Pterostylis recurva

Unknown species

Then a patch of blue grabs our attention. A Blue beard (Pheladenia deformis) which appears to be double headed, however two very close stems prove this to be two individuals flowers.

Back to back flowers

appears to be double headed flower ..not so

Also known as Blue Fairy orchid

This is how we get our photos. Very close to the subject. Wind and shadows can be tricky

Shot of a Blue Beard

Blue beard

The track is getting a bit overgrown so Deb parks the Triton up and whilst waiting for me, who is walking the track, she finds some Mosquito orchids (Cyrtostylis robusta) . A bite to eat then we both set off on foot towards Boyatup Hill.

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Profile showing pointed labellum

Cyrtostylis robusta

First finding is another Jug orchid which is nearly fully opened, followed by some more Mosquito orchids and then a Robust snail orchid (Pterostylis dilatata).

Looks like a pair of storks

Triplet yet to be born

Upturned labellum

Very broad hood

Size comparison to 5c coin

Further along more Jugs, Mosquitoes growing in the median strip of the track and Blue beards in a wet mossy area.

Darker colouring

Four flowers.. most I’ve seen this season

One open , waiting for his twin

Lighter colouring

We then break out from woodlands into open health and find some more donkey orchids and a patch of snails Fawn snail orchid (Pterostylis parva) again in the median strip of the track. Also a lone Hare orchid (Leporella fimbriata) and some more Spider orchids are found.

Enjoying a brief spot of sunlight

Pushing up into a branch

Well past it’s best

Little beauty

Trio compared in size to 5c coin

Alongside the track

Trio

Very broad labellum compared to others found today

Busy inflorescence

We now keep trekking along and start skirting the hill looking for a way up as the rocks look very steep from this side. Unfortunately the track runs out so we bash our way through and scramble onto the rock only to be driven back by a bees nest. So we push around the base of the rock and cross over a vegetated gully, where we find some Banded greenhoods (Pterostylis vittata), to finally get on the rock.

Two quite large plants

Appear to have been fertilised

After looking around the rock we make our way to the side where our bush track is and Deb finds a likely way down. No orchids were found on the rock which was disappointing however the views are amazing. We made the way down the rocks on our backsides as it was very steep and slippery. Safely on the ground we now bash through the bush and find the track back to the Triton. More photos of Spiders, Snails and Blue Beard orchids taken on the walk back along the track.

View from the rock towards the track leading in

Nice front on shot

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Late afternoon sunshine

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Arrived back at the Triton and had a cuppa then decided it was time to head home as it is getting on to 4pm. We get back onto Fisheries Rd and head west, when we decide to check out the track just before the line of pine trees. This patch was shared with us by Deb Witt, a fellow orchid and nature lover. A short way in we pull over for a look but nothing grabs our attention. I decide to walk ahead whilst Deb continues her search on the opposite side of the track. Only found a few rosettes before I see a flower that looks orchid like so I check it out.. WooHoo it is a Dancing spider orchid (Caladenia discoidea).

Caladenia discoidea

Profile shot

Red n green colouring

The further along we go the more we find, however some look at little different with longer sepals and colour variations. Hybrids??? It is now getting late so we turn around and on the way back we even find some Wispy Spider orchids. Then low and behold a solitary Donkey orchid. Being 5pm the light is fading fast so last photos taken with flash.

Appears to be waiting for his sibling to bloom

Very long petals and sepals

Very long sepals which hang down a brighter colouring

Possible 3 headed hybrid

Side view of possible hybrid

Taken with flash as the light was fading fast

Flash again due to fading light

Very reddish specimen

Damaged petal

Boyatup Hill lives up to the reputation of my Mud Map reference book as we found:

Green Range donkey orchid (Diuris sp. ‘Green Range’).

Western wispy spider orchid (Caladenia microchila)

Esperance king spider orchid (Caladenia decora)

Jug Orchid (Pterostylis recurva)

Blue beard (Pheladenia deformis)

Mosquito orchids (Cyrtostylis robusta)

Robust snail orchid (Pterostylis dilatata)

Fawn snail orchid (Pterostylis parva)

Hare orchid (Leporella fimbriata)

Banded greenhoods (Pterostylis vittata)

Dancing spider orchid (Caladenia discoidea)

plus snail and wispy spider orchids which I was not confident to name and the possible Hybrid Dancing spider orchids.

Hood of Snails

23/7/2017

Back to Helms Arboretum (Mud Map SE35) to see what’s now flowering. First up we locate the one and only Southern curly-locks (Thelymitra uliginosa) and it has just sprouted so hopefully it will be in flower before our September holidays.

We then made our way to Plot 8 where we find the beginning of the snail orchid eruption, which we have witnessed in previous years. First we find Hairy-stemmed snail orchid (Pterostylis sp. ‘inland’).

Pterostylis sp. ‘inland’

Profile shot

Front on shot with hairy stem

Also found two other snail orchid species. Unsure of the classification for both with one being taller, with 3 stem leaves but a lack of hairs on the stem and the other being quite small stature with 2 stem leaves and a rosette of crinkled edged leaves.

Quite tall with pointed rosette leaves

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Full length shot

Size comparison to my index finger

Taking a photo on the iPhone

Also found were some Banded greenhoods (Pterostylis vittata) with many more finished for the season.

Brighter green this one

Pterostylis vittata

Finally we head down to the western edge of the Arboretum and check out under the pine trees. Some little microtis type leaves with sprouts found and many pyrorchis leaves, some were very large. Nothing else found so we have some afternoon tea and head home.

Sprouting from small rounded leaf

Comparing size to my index finger and thumb

Condingup calling

22/7/2017

Again we head Eastwards but this time we head out to Condingup with a detour down to the coast at Duke of Orleans Bay (The Duke). On the drive down to The Duke we pass the boundary of Cape Le Grand National Park, which has been burnt off, so we find a track and go in to check it out. We find nothing driving North so we venture deeper into the park by following a track West. Amazingly I spied a Snail orchid so we stop to investigate this are a further. Not real sure of the species and only one decent pic taken however Deb finds a lone Spider orchid further into the scrub.

Unknown species

caladenia microchila

With it’s small labellum it may be a Western wispy spider orchid (Caladenia microchila) or a Common spider orchid (Caladenia vulgata) due to white calli.

Close-up

Closer shot of the small labellum

Western wispy leaf

Looking further afield nothing much is found, however on moving back to the Triton I find a lone snail orchid which appears to have been knocked over by a kangaroo or other animal. Standing him back to attention I grab some snaps and then realise he is a Robust snail orchid (Pterostylis dilatata) due to having no rosette. A non flowering rosette though is very close by.

With non flowering rosette nearby

Non flowering rosette

Pterostylis dilatata

Deb them gives me a call as she has found some more Spider orchids. These now appear to be Western Wispy’s.

Showing the long sepals and petals

Full flower shot

Red tipped calli

We move down to the coast and even though we go to numerous different locations we find nothing in flower. The closest we get is a large spider orchid close to the creek so I just had to record this.

Yet to bloom

Full length shot

So we leave the coast and head back inland to Condingup, however we decide to take a track just south of town and follow this till we reach a dead-end in a gravel pit. Nothing in flower again so we make tracks to our old stomping ground, Condingup Peak. (Mud Map SE 39)

First point of call is the rocky outcrop at the top of the hill. Leaves spotted again so we are getting a bit disheartened, when I spy this wonderful hood of snail orchids growing in the moss on the rock. It appears to be a hood of Brittle snail orchids (Pterostylis timothyi)

Possibly Cowslips

Hood of snail orchids

Close by are some smaller snail orchids which appear to be Eastern granite snail orchids (Pterostylis sp. ‘miniature’) . I capture a photo of a possible pollinator as it disappears into the orchid after I capture the shot.

Size comparison to my index finger tip

Full length shot

Pterostylis sp. ‘miniature’

Captured the pollinator

Whilst I busy taking photos of the snails Deb looks around and finds a sole Mosquito orchid (Cyrtostylis robusta) in flower in a patch of many leaves.

Cyrtostylis robusta

Profile shot

Broad labellum

Away from the rocks now on a sandy track are more snail orchids. The rosette is small and bluish with small flowers, so appears to be Fawn snail orchid (Pterostylis parva).

Colouring, height and lateral sepals point to classification

Bluish colouring and pointed tips

Nice brown cap

We then make our way back to the Triton for arvo tea, then I walk back along the sand track towards the gravel road down the hill and notice some more snail orchids at the side of the track. As I stand upright I glance to the other side of the track and there all on it’s lonesome is a Beautiful donkey orchid (Diuris pulchella).

Diuris pulchella

Such vibrant colours

Deb then comes along in the Triton, so I hop in for a drive down the gravel road to a spot we have found Bird orchids before. Deb jumps out and finds 4 small rosettes of sprouting bird orchids, quite a way from flowering yet, so we need to revisit in a few weeks to try and catch the flower in full bloom.

We then move down to our usual spot on the hill, but as we only have 15 mins to spare we only find a late Hare orchid (leporella fimbriata). Time to make tracks as Deb starts work at 5pm.

Coolinup calling – Pt 2

16/7/2017

We move to a different location on the other side of Coolinup Road and have a bite to eat for lunch. Whilst eating and having a cuppa after taking a selfie on a mound of gravel, we notice some snail and greenhood orchids. On closer inspection they are Dark banded greenhood (Pterostylis sanguinea) and Fawn snail orchid (Pterostylis parva). Then right next to the Triton Deb spies another Spider orchid which appears to be a Western Wispy spider orchid (Caladenia microchila) as the calli on the labellum have red colouring to them. This is promising!!!!

Pterostylis sanguinea

Pterostylis parva

Caladenia microchila

On the walk around we locate more snails, spiders and greenhoods. I even came across a dodgy looking hare orchid.

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Nice specimen

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Yet to fully unravel those petals and lateral sepals

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Long straight sepals

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Twins

We then move onto the small granite rock area on Coolinup Road. (Mud Map SE 38) We again had to bush bash our way in as the recent rain had created a large puddle over our access. Once through Deb finds some Mosquito orchids (Cyrtostylis robusta) in flower under the bushes so we do the best we can to get some photos. Only 1 OK one though taken.

Finding access

Cyrtostylis robusta

The we head home via one more stop. The granite rock at the corner of Le Grande Road and Merivale Road. The east side track was taken up to an abandoned picnic area. Here I find a solitary snail orchid well past its prime.

Burnt out by bushfire… Never to return by the looks of it

End of the line for this solitary fellow

We then venture up the incline and find many many Cyrtostylis leaves, a few Pyrorchis leaves and groups of Caladenia leaves. Finally find some Mosquito orchids in flower and one Red Beak orchid budding up.

first one found at this location

Very upturned labellum

Budding away

Furry leaves in a bed of moss

The wind is blowing a gale and it is freezing with light fading fast so we make tracks back to the Triton and head back down the track to Merivale Road. One lone Spider orchid I spy so jump out for some quick photos as the rain starts. Great timing to finish the day.

Unknown species

Unsure of species

Final orchid of the day but today confirms the time of the SPIDERS has arrived

Coolinup Calling – Pt1

16/7/2017

Today we headed East . Our first destination was the track off Coolinup Road where we found a few orchids back in June. Coolinup Nature Reserve indicates location of Road.

My first find is two small Pterostylis orchids just budding from their rosettes, however Deb locates some fully formed Snail orchids. I take my pics then go check out her find.

Size comparison with 5c coin

Growing up slowly

From the pointed nature of the hood these are Brittle snail orchid (Pterostylis timothyi) . A little further along some Fawn snail orchid (Pterostylis parva), previously sp. ‘small stature’, were found as they have a plumpier appearance.

Pterostylis timothyi

Profile shot

Pointed rosette

Note the fatter appearance

Squat bloated appearance

Full length couple

Also found were some Prasophyllum parvifolium orchids either pre or post flowering. Then in the middle of our walking track I spied 2 small specks of pink. Excited to find Pink bunny orchids (Eriochilus saber subsp. saber) again.

Appears to have been fertilised

Profile shot

Full length shot

Eriochilus scaber subsp. scaber — Size comparison with 5c coin

Deb found some late Hare orchids (Leporella fimbriata) and further snail orchids were found. Then under a WA Christmas Tree ( Nuytsia floribunda ) Deb finds some Rattlebeak (Lyperanthus serratus) leaves, which is only the 3rd location ever we have found them.

Double header

Sorry looking specimen

Unsure of type

Slight brown colourings

Lone little friend

Very long lateral sepals

Bit battered

Very long thin lateral sepals

Under another nearby WA Christmas Tree I spied our first Spider Orchid of the season. It appears to be the Common spider orchid (Caladenia vulgata). There ends up being 4 in close proximity. One poor specimen has his dorsal sepal nipped off.

Common spider orchid

Has his dorsal sepal eaten away

Close-up

Couple of close neighbours

Lone spider orchid with spreading petals and lateral sepals

Even closer neighbours

On the way back to the Triton, parked on the sodden track, we find more Pink bunny orchids, Hare orchids, Snail and Greenhood orchids, including the smallest flowering greenhood I have ever seen.