Condingup Water Reserve

After one week back at work we need to get out exploring, so as it’s Sunday we head East to Condingup to see if our Curly locks are flowering. At our townsite location we head to the location I had recorded in my Australian Geology Travel Maps app and we locate one in flower.
The Southern curly-locks (Thelymitra uliginosa) is known to occur from Busselton to Esperance, flowering during August and September. It is distinguished by its spiral leaf and the more purple-coloured flowers, rather than the pinkish colour of the other curly locks species.

Further afield we stumble across the Dancing spider orchid (Caladenia discoidea) which is a distinctive spider orchid having forward projecting lateral sepals and a very broad labellum with long fringe segments. They flower between Israelite Bay and Kalbarri during late Autumn to mid Spring.

Another spider orchid found in greater numbers was the Common spider orchid (Caladenia varians) which as the name suggests has a large range from Kalbarri to East of Esperance, similar the C. discoidea mentioned previously. It flowers over a slightly longer season, July to mid-October and as its Latin name suggests is variable in appearance over its extended range.

There was a single spider orchid that has had the tips nibbled off its sepals and petals, so I initially was leaving it out of this post, however after posting it on iNaturalist it appears it is the Cream spider orchid (Caladenia horistes) which occurs between the Fitzgerald River N.P and Balladonia, flowering from August to early-October.

Other orchids found were either at the end of their season or just starting. Those ending were the Hare orchid (Leporella fimbriata) and the Scented autumn leek orchid (Prasophyllum sp. ‘early’) and the Jug orchid (Pterostylis recurva) was just starting. Flowering seasons are March to June, April to June and August to October respectively.

We now move onto our next location, Condingup Peak (Mud Map SE39) which is located in the Condingup Water Reserve. Here we find the small Fawn snail orchid (Pterostylis parva) growing in the moss on or near the granite rocks. These little orchids are found between Albany and Eyre from June to early August and are distinguished by their tiny rosette of stalked leaves, diminutive size and they become reddish with age.

The only other orchid flowering up on the peak was the Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata) which is found between Perth and Israelite Bay over a longer season that most other orchids, being late April through to early September.

From here we head out to our Parmango Road locations. First up we are knocked over by the number of curly locks found in flower at a patch we had not found them before. Last year we found spiral leaves so were hopeful of finding one in flower, but we found multiple. These ones included one that was pinkish in colour though it still had the usual stripes to the petals and sepals. It is possibly the Curly-locks (Thelymitra spiralis) which is also found east of Esperance during the months of August and September. The species is recorded as having pale pink petals and sepals which are unblotched.

Two others were found with blotches to the markings which may distinguish them to be the related Eastern curly-locks (Thelymitra maculata) which is also known as the Spotted curly-locks, which fits the look. They flower slightly earlier than the Southern species, however, are recorded only as far east as Ongerup, some 375km to the west of our location. Posted on iNaturalist and in the Western Australian Native Orchids FB group for assistance in identification. The responses were mixed so I will leave the ID as tentative.

Walking back to the Triton we stumble across a better Jug orchid specimen and a couple of Curly-lock pairs which may or may not be different species, due to different colouring. But the surprise find here was a good number of more Common spider orchids in flower.

Back in the Triton we move onto another location along Parmango Road where we spy more orchids. We find many orchids on the longish walk so I will group them together in species rather than chronologically. Firstly, more Southern curly-locks are found, with some showing the different shadings to the alternate petal/sepal/labellum.

Next are spider orchids from the Caladenia filamentosa complex. Telling the correct species from one another is difficult within this complex. The Common spider orchid (Caladenia varians) is the most likely to be found however the Cream spider orchid (Caladenia horistes) is another possibility as is the Western wispy spider orchid (Caladenia microchila) with all being recorded as being found this far east. You be the judge.

A change in colour is a welcome surprise. The bright yellow Common bee orchid (Diuris decrementum) is found between Wongan Hills and Israelite Bay from Aug through to October. The early flowering period is the easiest way to distinguish it from the Bee orchid (D. laxiflora) which also occurs in the same locale but does not flower until September.

A solitary Esperance white spider orchid (Caladenia longicauda subsp. crassa) is found along the track. These large orchids are found between Bremer Bay and Israelite Bay from August to October.

Another solitary orchid found appears to be a Green Range donkey orchid (Diuris littoralis) which flowers between Denmark and Esperance during July to early September. The only other possibility is the South coast donkey orchid (Diuris brockmanii) which occurs over a similar range but flowers earlier, June to early August. I will leave the positive ID to those more qualified than I.

Unsure why we are finding solo specimens, but the Bluebeard (Pheladenia deformis) is also found all by itself. This is a tiny specimen but is a nice discovery, nonetheless. This is a widespread species, ranging from Murchison River to Israelite Bay in WA, as well as being found in other states.

Leaving Parmango Road we head southwest to a granite outcrop at the Cape le Grand National Park turnoff on Merivale Road. Here we find lots of Bluebeard orchids which is nice, however it was exciting to find a new species for the day. The small Mosquito orchid (Cyrtostylis robusta) is found by searching under bushes for the distinctive round ground hugging leaf. Once you find the leaves you then take a closer look and luckily for us today, we find some in flower. These orchids flower between Perth and Israelite Bay from June to August.

Final orchid of the day is a small snail orchid. Bases on location, size and colouring I will be naming this species as the Fawn snail orchid which was found earlier today at Condingup Peak.

The east of Esperance rarely disappoints and today was no exception. At least 14 species found.

Today we plan to catch up with 2 fellow native orchid enthusiasts out at Condingup, which is 69kms or so East of Esperance. We arrive at the townsite location, park up the Triton, then head off on our search, whilst we await the others. As it turns out Kath will be arriving a bit later, so we only meet up with Varena at this location.

After exploring for a while, we finally meet Varena and compare notes from our current and previous visits to this location. We do appear to have found the same species with some possible variation.

Some early season species are found still hanging in there. The Hare orchid (Leporella fimbriata) is still recognisable even though it commences flowering back in March, with June listed as its final flowering month. Another early season orchid is the Scented Autumn leek orchid (Prasophyllum sp. ‘early’) which flowers from April through to July. The final orchid found here was a Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata) which flowers from late April to September. We were successful in finding some Curly locks in bud; however, we could not find any King-In-his-Carriage orchid leaves or buds. Maybe we will get a chance to revisit later in the season.

Moving on to Condingup Peak (Mud Map SE39) for a quick check. Nothing found other than a very worse for wear Hare orchid. Kath pulls up just as we were leaving, so we make tracks for the Parmango Road location to have a quick bite to eat for lunch, before we take them on the trek to our Curly locks location.

Unfortunately, not a great deal was found flowering here either. More Banded greenhood and Hare orchids were found, with the only excitement being a nice patch of Robust snail orchids (Pterostylis dilatata) being found hiding in the middle of a low-lying shrub. These are large snail orchids that lack a rosette and have clubbed lateral sepals, both being distinguishing features. They flower from May through to August, so are another early season orchid, which appears to be the theme for today.

Final destination to share is our spot in the Beaumont Nature Reserve. A very quick explore which turned up some nice specimens of the Banded greenhood or are they? We still enjoyed our day showing Kath and Varena some of our local haunts. I trust they enjoyed their day as well.