02/9/2017

After a quick breakfast and a long hot shower we make up the thermos and head off to fuel up, then make tracks for the North Wagin Nature Reserve, our first planned stop of the day. Just off the road, on the track chosen to push into the reserve, I spy a group of Jug orchids (Pterostylis recurva) which we will check out on the way back. We park the Triton and camper near a dam and head out on foot to check out this new location. First find is the Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata), quickly followed by Western wheatbelt donkey orchid (Diuris sp. ‘western wheatbelt’).

Green and white banded flowers, 8 to 10 mm across

Mostly found east of the Albany Hwy. Between York, Tenterden and Ravensthorpe

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Many donkey orchids were found and mixed in with these we found some Little pink fairy orchids (Caladenia reptans subsp. reptans) distinguished by their leaf having a red coloured underside. Another common orchid found here was the Fringed mantis orchid (Caladenia falcata) which competed with the donkey orchid to be the most common orchid in this location. As planned we took pictures of the Jug orchids as we made tracks for our next location.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Short spreading petals and sepals with a prominently tri-lobed labellum

Spreading petals, up-swept, narrowly clubbed lateral sepals

Greenish-yellow, red tipped labellum with comb-like fringe segments

Down curved lateral sepals

Looking into the jug of the aptly named orchid

Tow to three basal leaves with up to four flowers per stem

View looking down into the labellum

Piesseville was our next location and we finally found flowering orchids, after other visits turned up leaves and buds only. As with the Wagin location the Fringed mantis orchid was very common, as were the Sugar orchids (Ericksonella saccharata), however the later were restricted to a few metres in from the road. Cowslip orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. flava) was also plentiful, but further into the bush.

Size comparison with my index finger

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Short, stiffly spreading petals and sepals

The first spider orchid found is a Chameleon spider orchid (Caladenia dimidia) and nearby a reddish version of the same flower.A very different spider orchid is then found. The Dancing spider orchid (Caladenia discoidea). Unlike previous specimens found this season near Esperance,this one finally looks like the ones in the books.

Closer shot of the small labellum

Small, pale white or pale yellow, red-striped labellum

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Long, fine fringe segments and dark purplish-black calli

Short, horizontally spreading petals and lateral sepals

In the northerly section of the location we find some Western wheatbelt donkey orchids and in the swampy section I find some Blue beards (Pheladenia deformis) of varying shades. I track down Deb who has crossed to the other side of the road and took her back to where the Blue beards were located.

Elongated petals, a short broad, dorsal sepal

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

One (rarely two) blue or more rarely white, flowers 20 – 30 mm across

Narrow, upright labellum with short fringe segments and a dense mass of calli

On the way back to the Blue beards more spider orchids were found. Chameleon spider orchid, Crimson spider orchid (Caladenia footeana)  which flowers July to early October between Cranbrook and Binnu and Chapmans spider orchid (Caladenia chapmanii) which flowers September to mid-October between Boyup Brook, Kojonup and Northam, all within a few metres of each other.

Spreading petals and lateral sepals

Contrast of colours

Yellow, cream or red-pink flowers

Lateral sepals yet to be released

Prominently red-striped labellum with serrate to dentate fringe segments

Spreading petals and lateral sepals of uniform colour

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Large, white, red-striped labellum with serrate to dentate fringe segments and two rows of white or red-tipped calli

Then an OMG moment, when Deb spies an all red spider orchid. Appears to be Blood spider orchid (Caladenia filifera) NEW FIND!!!! These are found between Tenterden and Wongan Hills and flower August to early October. Not 100% certain as it was not clumping, but single flowers. Edit: After locating Blood spider orchids at Forsyth Woodland this one appears to be a red variant of another species.

Small blood-red labellum with serrate to dentate fringe segments and tow rows of red calli

Uniformly blood red flowers

Other orchids found at this location were Jug orchids and Banded greenhoods.

We moved on and called into Narrogin to buy some supplies and an extra gas cartridge for the shower unit. We then drove north-east and stopped off at North Yilliminning Nature Reserve for lunch and checked out this new location. Not far into our search and we were bombarded with yellow from so many Cowslip orchids. Various shapes, patterns and sizes with some having very long lateral sepals.

Another herd of Cowslips with redder markings

Nice family herd of Cowslips

Grouping with long sepals. Deb’s hands for size comparison

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Next orchid found was the small Sugar orchid followed closely with some Donkey orchids. Most likely, Western wheatbelt donkey orchids. Also found were some Banded greenhoods

Last two flowers for this orchid

Up to 4 flowers

Horizontally held petals and lateral sepals.

A very unusual colour catches Deb’s eye as she has found a Hybrid orchid. A Spectacular spider orchid (Caladenia x spectabilis) which is a hybrid formed by a Cowslip and Pink fairy cross pollinating. Further colour variations were found. However to muddy the waters, the Little pink fairy orchid is found which may be a parent of the hybrids, in which case the orchid is unnamed and referred to as (Caladenia flava x C. reptans). For now I will leave the judgement open.

First hybrid found

3rd colour variation. Brightest of the bunch

Another variation in colour

Dorsal sepals have both been eaten.

A 2nd colour variation

Single, relatively broad, hairy leaf 40 – 80 mm long by 8 – 10 mm wide

These little beauties may be the parents of the Hybrids found nearby

Edit: 29/10/2017 – From further investigations it appears all Hybrids found were Spectacular spider orchids due to the longer lateral sepals. Blooms August to October and found from Kalbarri to Esperance

Final orchids found were a sole Hairy stemmed snail orchid (Pterostylis sp. ‘inland’) and some further Jug orchids.

Green and white flower 10-20mm long and 3-10mm across

Hairy flower stem

Dark green, fawn and white flowers

Narrow-ended prominently recurved lateral sepals which are joined at the base

Quick toilet stop in Wickepin, which was a very neat little town with a museum for Albert Facey, who is famous for his autobiography “A Fortunate Life”. We make one final stop, before catching up with Richard, at Malyalling Nature Reserve. Along the road that dissects the N.R. I spot some Ant orchids (Caladenia roei) which flower August to October between Eurardy Station and Ravensthorpe, and when taking photos also noticed Fringed mantis orchids nearby.

Upswept lateral sepals

Crucifix shape adopted by the petals and lateral sepals

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Some Donkey orchids were also found and at the Eastern boundary of the N.R. we found a patch of  Fringed mantis orchids. Too many to count.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

We made our way back to the low granite outcrop and Deb immediately finds some purple variants of the Little laughing leek orchid (Prasophyllum gracile) which is quite rare according to my orchid book, so a great find Deb!! Also found on this rock were Lemon-scented sun orchids (Thelymitra antennifera) which flower from July to October between Shark Bay and Israelite Bay and very small donkey orchids.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Up to 40 yellowish-green, or, more rarely, purplish, flowers

A distinctive column with a yellow crested mid-lobe and reddish-brown, ear like lateral lobes

Size comparison to my index finger

After finding 18 orchid varieties it is now time to head off for Kwolyin campground, where Richard is waiting for us. … Trio travelling begins.

Triton and camper . Richard with Red Triton and tent.