Sunday Drive

04/09/2022 ….. Father’s Day Findings Pt. II

Sunday Drive, Western Australian Orchids

Saying goodbye to the kids, grandkids and Deb C, we head north for our next location. Here we check out the burnt patch north of Gibson.

Up to 8 flowers per orchid

Red beaks (Pyrorchis nigricans)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Shark Bay and Israelite Bay, growing in sandy, sandy-clay and lateritic soils in forests, woodlands and shrublands. With rare exceptions, plants flower only in the season following a summer fire. Also found in SA, Vic, NSW & Tas.

Red n white striped flowers
Up to 4 flowers per orchid

Lemon-scented sun orchid (Thelymitra antennifera)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Shark Bay and Israelite Bay, growing on creek margins, seasonally moist flats and granite outcrops.

Broad petals and sepals
Single, shortly haired leaf

Cowslip orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. flava)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Northampton and Israelite Bay, growing in sandy, sandy-clay, lateritic and granitic soils in forests, woodlands and shrublands. In inland areas the subspecies is found in isolated populations on granite outcrops and rocky hills.

Colony forming on occasions.
Large colourful species, standing 250-500mm in height.

Esperance king spider orchid (Caladenia decora)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Bremer Bay and Cape Arid, growing in sandy-clay and clay soils in woodlands and shrublands.

Clubbed sepals
Standing 300-800mm in height

Bee Orchid (Diuris laxiflora)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Gingin and Esperance, growing in sandy-clay and clay soils in seasonally wet areas.

Tapering dorsal sepal & forward projecting lateral sepals.
Prominently red-striped labellum

Zebra orchid (Caladenia cairnsiana)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Lancelin and Esperance, growing in sandy and sandy-clay soils in forests, woodlands and shrublands.

Dense central band of lamina calli
Smallest flowers in the genus

Swamp mignonette orchid (Microtis atrata)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Jurien Bay and Israelite Bay, growing in sandy-clay and clay soils in seasonally wet areas. Also found in SA, Vic & Tas.

Up to 40 flowers per orchid
Greenish petal and sepals

Heberle’s spider orchid (Caladenia heberleana)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Augusta and Cape Arid, growing in sandy and sandy-clay soils in forests, woodlands and shrublands.

Typical hairy caladenia leaf
70-150mm in height

Pink bunny orchid (Eriochilus scaber subsp. scaber)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Jurien Bay and Cape Arid NP, growing in sandy and sandy-clay soils in seasonally wet flats and run-off areas. Flowers best in the season following a summer fire.

Flowering and non-flowering leaves
Up to 3 ,rarely 4 flowers per orchid

Spectacular spider orchid (Caladenia x spectabilis)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Kalbarri and Esperance, growing in sandy and sandy-clay soils in forests, woodlands and shrublands.

A hybrid between Cowslip orchid (C. flava) and Pink fairies (C. latifolia)

Pink to apricot flowers
Lateral spreading fringe segments to labellum

Dancing spider orchid (Caladenia discoidea)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Kalbarri and Israelite Bay, growing in sandy soils in woodlands and shrublands.

Broad central band of dark purplish-black calli
Up to 3 flowers per orchid

Purple enamel orchid (Elythranthera brunonis)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Kalbarri and Israelite Bay, growing in sandy, sandy-clay and lateritic soils in forests, woodlands and shrublands.

Glossy spreading petals and sepals
Caladenia flava ???
Caladenia decora ???
Caladenia x spectabilis ???

So many orchids, but as it is after 1.30pm we head off to grab a late lunch at the Esperance Bird & Animal Park .. Hamburgers n chips enjoyed ..I had a GOAT beer to celebrate a wonderful Father’s Day .

26/06/2022 ….. Gibson locations checked

Sunday Drive, Western Australian Orchids

As has become our ritual, we enjoy breakfast at the Esperance Bird and Animal Park before checking out some orchid locations.

1st stop – Walker Street Bushland – Gibson, where we check out the burnt-out scrub. Along the edge of the north/south track we locate some greenhoods. The bright green ones must be the Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata) whilst the brownish coloured ones may either be the Dark banded greenhood (Pterostylis sanguinea) or the Mallee banded greenhood (Pterostylis arbuscula). All 3 species are recorded as being found this far east, however the references state the sp.vittata is found in soil pockets on granite this far east, which does not match the habitat these ones were found in.

2nd stop – Bush block opposite Stafford Road, further north on the Esperance-Coolgardie Highway. More Banded greenhoods found as well as a good patch of Hare orchid (Leporella fimbriata) leaves. The surprise find though was a large hood of Robust snail orchids (Pterostylis dilatata) growing under the protection of the shrubs. These orchids flower May to August between Northampton and Toolinna.

Non-flowering leaves of the Hare orchid
Broad hood formed by petals and dorsal sepal
Erect, clubbed, lateral sepals
Nice hood of snails

3rd stop – Boydell Road, even further north along the Highway. Nothing found other than more Hare orchid leaves so our final and 4th stop is our usual location on Fleming Grove Road. Further Banded greenhoods found, plus some Hare orchids still in flower. Past their best but easily recognisable.

Average day for orchids, however it was wonderful to get out under a beautiful blue winters sky. Nothing better than a Sunday drive with orchids as an added bonus.