19/9/2017

After breakfast we go for a more leisurely search around our campsite for any orchids we may have missed in our late search yesterday. Ant orchid (Caladenia roei), Sugar orchid (Ericksonella saccharata), Cowslip orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. flava) were again located as was one Fringed mantis orchid (Caladenia falcata) with a dangling labellum. Also found was a yet to open Thelymitra species.

No hint as to the type

Prominently tri-lobed labellum

Yellow, red marked flowers

Dangling labellum

Smooth margined labellum

We then hurried back to camp, packed up a headed back along the track we drove down late yesterday afternoon. First up were some Donkey orchids, which due to the location they must be Western wheatbelt donkey orchids (Diuris brachyscapa).

Short, broad dorsal sepal

Top down view

Broad spreading lateral lobes to the labellum

Further along we find more Cowslip orchids plus better specimens of the Fringed mantis orchid.

Shorter lateral sepals

Group with long lateral sepals

Colourful trio

No right way up to the photo, taken looking directly down onto the flowers

Upswept, narrowly-clubbed lateral sepals

Red-tipped labellum, with long comb like fringe segments

Comb-like fringe segments to the smooth labellum

Large green yellow and red flowers

Spreading petals

And finally after a very long spell we finally find another Pterostylis specimen, the Jug orchid (Pterostylis recurva).

Looking into the Jug

The glistening flower

Showing the colour variations

Our final stop along the bush track was at a small granite outcrop, where we found some Lemon-scented sun orchids (Thelymitra antennifera)  and some yet to flower Elbow orchids (Spiculaea ciliata)

Antennae like labellum appendeges

Broad, spreading petals and sepals

Getting close to flowering

Leaf is shrivelled at time of flowering

We leave Tutanning N. R. and head on down to Wickepin, where we have a yummy lunch, before heading over to visit Toolibin N. R.. On the track in we spy many Fringe mantis orchids, some with two flowers per stem.

1 – 2 reclining flowers

The lateral sepals up curved to almost vertical

Twin headers were common at Toolibin Lake N.R.

Moderately long, indistinct clubs on the sepals

Red tipped labellum

Looking top down shows how reclined the flowers are. Twins on one stem

Size comparison to my fingers

Size comparison of the entire plant. Another twin header

Dorsal sepal horizontal basally, the curved upwards and forward

We decided to take a walk alongside the track to see what other orchids may be around. We came across Cowslip orchids, Dancing spider orchid (Caladenia discoidea) and Pink fairies (Caladenia latifolia).

Yellow flower with red markings

Small, squat flowers

Very broad labellum, with 4 – 6 rows of short, thick, crowded calli

Can have up to 4 flowers per plant

Horizontally spreading petals and lateral sepals

Prominently tri-lobed labellum

Stiffly spreading, petals and sepals

Up to 4 flowers per orchid

We then drove to the parking area and attempted the lake walk, however it was closed due to flooding from recent heavy rain, which had washed away some of the infrastructure. I decided to walk back along the track and Deb drove the Triton, which proved fortuitous as I found some Ant orchids and Deb found some spider orchids.

Pale yellow to yellowish-green with variable reddish stripes.

Lateral sepals tapering to thickened tips rather than a narrow tail before the clubs

Smooth-margined, greenish-yellow, red tipped labellum

This one lacks the usual red colouring but the calli give it away

Easily distinguishable due to the short, thick, rounded, glossy black calli

Drooping spider orchid (Caladenia radialis) is the obvious specie as it has a smooth margined labellum with distinctive striping.

Cream coloured, red-striped labellum

Reddish-brown to dark brown tails to petals and sepals

Drooping petals and lateral sepals

Red-striped smooth-margined labellum

Up to 2 red and cream flowers

Final find before hitting the Wickepin-Harrismith Rd is a great Pink fairy twin.

120 – 450mm high

Twin fairy

As soon as we got on the Wickepin-Harrismith Road we took a track near Dulbining Lake,  that seemed to run adjacent to the road and drove along in 1st gear with our heads hanging out the window looking. Some spider orchids are seen on the left hand side of the track, so we alight from the Triton to check them out. They appear to be Common spider orchid (Caladenia vulgata).

Red striped labellum

Index finger a bottom of photo for size comparison

Narrow, usually pendulous petals and lateral sepals

Moving slowly along this track we find many other orchids, starting with Cowslip orchids, Fringed mantis orchid and Pink candy orchids (Caladenia hirta subsp. rosea).

Erect flowers

Deformed lateral sepal on both flowers

Bright yellow variation

3 flowers in close proximity

Size comparison to index finger

Up to 2 green, yellow and red flowers

Brighter pink colouring

Deep pink colouring

Location gives up name not the colouring

Twin flowers

Pale pink colouring

Labellum with short fringe segments and four or more rows of calli

Short, spreading petals and lateral sepals

Then we find what we initially thought were more Ant orchids. However on closer inspection we have found Purple-veined spider orchid (Caladenia doutchiae) which flowers August to October between Mullewa and Ravensthorpe. In the middle of all these is a lone Ant orchid.

Down-swept petals

Smooth-margined, greenish-yellow, rep tipped labellum

Long, shortly-clubbed lateral sepals

Greenish to greenish-yellow and red flowers

Short petals and long lateral sepals

Greener version

Joined by spider web between the dorsal sepals

Appear to be dancing

Possible pollinator

Lack clubbing of sepals

short red calli

A common wheatbelt spider orchid

Final orchids found before getting back on the sealed road were what appeared at first to be Common spider orchids. However the flowers had much broader labellum’s and if they were fully unfurled, long petals and sepals. I am going to name these Pendant spider orchid (Caladenia pendens subsp. pendens) which flower August to early October in a range from Wongan Hills to Walpole.

2 rows of white, sometimes pale-red-tipped calli

Relatively broad, red-striped labellum with serrate to dentate fringe segemnts

Up to 3 flowers per stem

Nearly fully unfurled

Broad labellum

Once fully unfurled the petals and sepals will be long and pendulous

Travelling west we arrive at Harrismith and as the weather was looking like rain we decide to book a room rather than risk getting our canvas camper wet. Rather than a room we take the donger which has its own shower and toilet. Was really cheap and rough but was sufficient for 1 night. After unpacking into the bedroom we decide to take a drive around the self drive wildflower tour. Our first orchids were more Fringed  mantis orchids. (Mud Map SE 10)

Common wheatbelt orchid

Greenish-yellow, red tipped labellum

Lateral sepals are narrowly clubbed

Prominently up-swept lateral sepals

Spreading petals

Also found were Western wheatbelt donkey orchids, Sugar orchid and Jug orchids.

Short, broad dorsal sepal

Spreading petals and sepals

Dark green, fawn and white flowers

Back just before sunset, so we have a shower and get changed into fresh clothes, then make our way over to the Oasis Hotel for a meal, game of pool and a few drinks to celebrate finding 15 different orchids.