16 unique orchid species found West of Esperance WA

04/09/2024

After a wonderful morning finding 15 species of orchids over numerous locations, we pull off the road to park up and enjoy lunch, from the boot of my small Toyota Corolla (Fili).
Neds Corner Rd is the border between the locations of Coomalbidgup and East Munglinup.
So, our lunch is in East Munglinup⁸, being West of the road however our explorations take us to the East side as well, which technically is in Coomalbidgup.
Not too confusing I trust. 🙂

After lunch we hit the surrounding area for another orchid hunt. Very close by we find our first orchids for the afternoon.
The Zebra orchid (Caladenia cairnsiana) is found growing between Lancelin and Esperance from August to early-November.

Red beaks (Pyrorchis nigricans) are usually found flowering the season after a summer fire has burnt its habitat. This is the case with this location, and they are found in great numbers.
Occur between Shark Bay and Israelite Bay from August to October.

Another orchid previously found today is also located at both sides of the road. The Small mantis orchid (Caladenia attingens subsp. gracillima) is found between Jerramungup and Israelite Bay during the period August to early-October.

A newbie for the day was next on the list. The tiny Little laughing leek orchid (Prasophyllum gracile) occurs between Shark Bay and Eyre during the period July to November.

An orchid which we always expect to find, but on occasions we are disappointed is the Cowslip orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. flava). Today we are not disappointed. In fact, we find hundreds growing on the banks of the Young River in the unburnt vegetation, whilst earlier we found sporadic ones growing in the bushfire zone.

In a bushfire regrowth area green with weeds and white sandy soil we find a great patch of the Esperance king spider orchid (Caladenia decora). These orchids range from Bremer Bay to Cape Arid from mis-August to October.

Another newbie and a surprise for the day is the Pink candy orchid (Caladenia hirta subsp. rosea) which occurs between Kalbarri and Israelite Bay from late-June to September.

Intermixed with the Cowslips was another yellow-coloured orchid. The Lemon-scented sun orchid (Thelymitra antennifera) is found between Shark and Israelite Bays from July to October.

As would be expected orchids found earlier today will also be found at this location being only 10km or so north. So further specimens of the Purple enamel orchid (Elythranthera brunonis) are found as they occur between Kalbarri and Israelite Bay from August to early-November.

A single king type spider orchid is found which does not appear to be the Esperance king spider orchid.
Due to the lack of red colouring and the drooping petals I will name this the Heberle’s spider orchid (Caladenia heberleana). These orchids are listed as occurring between Augusta and Cape Arid during September and October.
I have posted this ID on iNaturalist and will await other opinions.

Another solitary specimen is found, this time of the Pink fairies (Caladenia latifolia) which is found between Kalbarri and Israelite Bay from August to early-December.

Upon crossing the road, the first orchid found appears to be a hybrid. The parentage was hard to decipher until we found one of the parents close by.
I have decided the parents are Caladenia attingens x barbarossa.
Posted on iNaturalist for thoughts from others.

Just past the hybrid orchid we come across one of the parents. The Common dragon orchid (Caladenia barbarossa) is found scattered at the top of the ridge above the river flat.
These orchids are found between Bindoon and Esperance from September to mid-November.

Another orchid found as two separate specimens was the Beautiful donkey orchid (Diuris pulchella) which is listed as growing between Salmon Gums and Israelite Bay from July to September. The specimens were north and south of the river.
Our location is some 50km southwest of Salmon Gums but the species is recorded at this location in the Atlas of Living Australia.

As I was taking photos of orchids found Debbie is exploring further afield and she yells out excitedly.
She has come across a vast warren of the Rabbit orchid (Leptoceras menziesii) which has flowered due to the previous summer bushfire that scorched this area.
These orchids are found growing between Northampton and Israelite Bay from September to early-November.

Close by we also found the Esperance white spider orchid (Caladenia longicauda subsp. crassa) which occurs between Bremer and Israelite Bays from August to early-October.
Some may be the related Rigid white spider orchid (Caladenia longicauda subsp. rigidula) which occurs between Ravensthorpe and Israelite Bay during a similar flowering season.
The differences between the 2 species are the size of the flower and the rigidness or pendulousness of the petals and sepals.
Let me know your thoughts.

Crossing back over the river we come across more spider orchids that appear to be further Esperance king spider orchids.
However the better find was some other species of Donkey orchid. Due to the location and date found, I will be naming these the Green Range donkey orchid (Diuris littoralis) which is recorded as occurring between Denmark and Esperance from July to early-September.