02/07/2023 ….. Sharing the Orchid Fever

Beaumont NR, Condingup Water Reserve, Sunday Drive, Western Australian Orchids

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.

10/06/2023 ….. Banded greenhood stands alone.

Esperance, Pink Lake, Western Australian Orchids

Just a quick trip out to my Pink Lake lookout location to see what is currently flowering. Only one species found which is a bit disappointing however I am always happy to find the unassuming Pterostylis genus.
When I first starting my interest in native orchids, I was completely unaware of these very strange, usually green orchids. On first glance they blend in with their surroundings due to the unusual flowers being coloured the same as the stem and leaves.
The common name for the complex; Greenhoods, is very apt given the colouring and structure of the flowers. The flowers are usually green and white striped (more rarely fawn and white striped), with the joined petals and dorsal sepal forming a hood over the column.
The species found is the Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata) which is a common orchid found flowering over a wide distribution, between Perth and Israelite Bay from late April to early September. They can grow to over 450mm in height and can have up to 25 flowers per plant.
They were named way back in 1839, from specimens collected inland of Albany, from the Latin “vittatus” for longitudinally striped.

28/05/2023 ….. Frozen weekend wanderings – Bromus Dam.

Peak Charles NP, Weekend away

After a long working week, we jump into the Triton, hitch up the camper and make tracks for Bromus Dam, where we catch up with friends Jan and Bob. We are enjoying a weekend away camping. It is bloody cold when we arrive so after setting up camp, we sit very close to the campfire for a drink and a yarn.

After a freezing cold night (minus 2), we awake to clear blue skies and a cold morning. After enjoying breakfast, we check out the dam before jumping in our vehicles for a trip to Peak Charles. We arrive late morning and pull into the day use area. We go for a brief walk and climb a little way up the rock. All the while I am checking for orchids. None found in flower, so somewhat deflated I join the others and head back down to enjoy a picnic lunch.

Bromus Dam
Peak Charles from the North
Peak Charles from the Day Use Area

After lunch we check out the camping area before making tracks back to Bromus Dam. It is just past 4 PM, but it is already so cold outside that we have got thre campfire cranking. I walked over to the dam to capture the beautiful sunset, and it is so peaceful here. Another great night spent around the campfire having a few drinks and solving all the world’s problems. 🙂

Next morning after breakfast I go for an exploration of the pipeline that feeds the dam. It takes me up to a large granite rock outcrop which has a water tank at the summit. I have a quick scout around for any orchids, but alas none found. I decide to walk back along the track to the south of the rock and it is along here I find a spent Pygmy orchid (Corunastylis fuscoviridis) which flowers from March to May over an inland range between Corrigin and Eucla. These small orchids are some of the first to flower in the season and reach no more than 250mm in height.

Once I get back from my walk, we are able to pack up the camper as it had now dried out in the sun; after becoming very damp overnight. Jan and Bob head off home whilst we intend to take a detour to check for any orchid currently flowering.

Our planned detour was to our usual Fleming Grove Road location. Here we found our track had been widened, we assume for a firebreak. This however destroyed a lot of the previous orchid locations which was devastating. Not one Leafless orchid was found, whilst last year we found a good number. Luckily the Hare orchid (Leporella fimbriata) was still located is ok numbers. The highlight was finding a triple headed one. These do flower later than the Leafless orchid; into June rather than May, however the numbers were still affected by the track widening. 😦

Survived the pushed up earth.
Triple header
The much more common, double header
Size comparison to my hand
Possible pollinator

We backtracked easterly along the widened track looking for some bunny orchids. After nearly giving up we found one lone specimen. I forgot to take a pic of the leaf so will not attempt to formally identify it other than to call it a Bunny orchid (Eriochilus sp.)

Nothing to spectacular found however the 3 headed Hare orchid was a highlight. It was a great weekend away, spent with good friends, even though it was a tad cold at night. Roll on the 2023 orchid season.

12-14/05/2023 ….. 60th & 70th Birthdays Road Trip

Dwellingup SF, Road Trip, State Forest, Weekend away

What better reason to travel up to Perth and Dwellingup than to help to celebrate 2 milestone birthdays. This will be the first road trip in my new car, a hybrid Toyota Corolla I have named Fili, due to its red colouring matching the Blood spider orchid (Caladenia filifera).

FILI – My new Hybrid Toyota Corolla – Pit stop in Corrigin

Travelled up Friday by taking another RDO, which gives us time to make a quick orchid stop, firstly near Corrigin (Mud Map E12). Not a very successful location this early in the season with only 1 bunny orchid found. Given the location and the small stem leaf I will name this one the Blunt-leaved bunny orchid (Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. brevifolius), which flowers April to June over a range from Murchison River to Toolina Cove, as previous subspecies orientalis and undulatus have now been combined into brevifolius. Refer this BioOne article.

One other location checked quickly was Williams Road where we found a shell orchid in bud; most likely the Red-veined shell orchid (Pterostylis hamiltonii) which flowers late May to early August over an inland range from Toodyay to Stirling Range.

Now to get to Perth for the 60th Birthday Party for a High School and Youth Club friend, Kim.
Next morning, Saturday the 13th we head up to Dwellingup to catch up with my sister Lorraine and her family, who was celebrating her 70th birthday by having a weekend away. As the road bridge over the Murray River was closed for repairs we parked on the North bank and walked over and then onto Nanga Bush Camp where my sister and family were staying. After enjoying a wonderful Birthday breakfast, we said our goodbyes and got drenched on the walk back to our cars due to a freak rain shower. Welcome back to Dwellingup 🙂

Back in Dwellingup we pop up to the Forest Discovery Centre to say hello to Megan, my niece and it is in the carpark we find some bunny orchids. It was fun showing people these unusual small orchids for the first time. The orchids found are now known as the White bunny orchid (Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. dilatatus) as per the beforementioned article on BioOne. Subspecies magnus and multiflorus, which these orchids would have most likely have been identified as, have been absorbed by dilatatus.

We spend the afternoon with Geoff and Robyn and sister; Maxine which leads into an evening catch-up and sleepover. Next morning, we make the start of our long drive home to Esperance. Only one orchid hunt is completed on this leg and that is checking a location near Hyden for the elusive Winter spider orchid.
No luck with them but we did find some more bunny orchids. This time round they appear to be the now defunct Crinkle-leafed bunny orchid (Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. undulatus) which is now subsp. brevifolius as per the previously mentioned article.

It was a great weekend catching up with family and friends and being there to celebrate Kim’s 60th and Lorraine’s 70th birthdays. Orchid wise not so great, but we did find some.

IMPORTANT NOTE
It was only when writing this blog in Jan 2024 that I realized Florabase had removed the following subspecies from the dilatatus group: magnus, multiflorus, orientalis and undulatus. Only 2 subspecies remain: dilatatus and brevifolius.
I then checked online and found the BioOne article dated 16/04/2020, which advises which subspecies were combined. I have now named my orchids based on this change.
My latest reference book: The Complete Orchids of Western Australia (Andrew Brown) however still includes a total of 8 subspecies, which adds to confusion with Identification.

22/04/2023 ….. Coastal bunnies

Weekend away, Western Australian Orchids

Alexander Bay was our magnificent destination for Saturday afternoon, with friends and family. We enjoyed a wonderful morning on the beach then decided to try our luck at catching some squid at the Westen end of the bay. We parked up on the rocks and whilst the fisher people tried their luck I went for a wander around the vicinity.

Amazingly I actually came across some orchids in flower. Given the location and habitat I found them in I believe them to be the Granite bunny orchid (Eriochilus pulchellus), which is recorded as flowering during the months of April and May between Northcliffe and Bremer Bay then Esperance and Balladonia. Alexander Bay is located in the later range. However, the later reference book (The Complete Orchids of Western Australia) has separated the eastern range into its own subspecies of E. dilatatus. Applied name is E. dilatatus subsp. ‘eastern granites’. Another distinguishing feature is the small smooth margined leaf when compared to E. dilatatus subsp. dilatatus and E. dilatatus subsp. undulatus which are both recorded as occurring this far East.

20/04/2023 ….. Grandchildren in tow

Day Trip, Mount Burdett NR, Nature Reserves, Western Australian Orchids

I have an RDO, and the grandkids are enjoying the last few days of school holidays, so why not give mum a break and spend the day with Grandad and Nana. So, we take them off on an afternoon orchid hunt of sorts. First up it’s time to play on the blue metal mounds in our first location, a bit north up the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway.

No orchids seen on the drive into and out of this location, so we move on to Mount Burdett where we take the kids on a mountain climb. Well calling this casual bush bash and granite rock ramble a mountain climb is a bit of a stretch, but it was a good workout, nonetheless. Plus, the bonus was finding some orchids.

Actually, the first orchid blew my mind, as it was a bunny orchid with 16 flowers in its inflorescence. For this location, the White bunny orchid (Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. dilatatus) or the Granite bunny orchid (Eriochilus pulchellus) are the most likely species to be encountered. Neither are listed with 16 flowers; however, the Granite bunny is listed as having up to 10, whilst the White bunny has up to 7 and in rare cases 10. I have posted pics onto iNaturalist Australia site for assistance in identifying the probable species.

At and near the summit of the hill we come across some other bunny orchids in flower. These orchids are growing on the granite, have fewer flowers and a thick stem, which leads me to name these one’s the Granite bunny orchid.

Before leaving the rock, we grab a couple of pics then head back down to the Triton where we have afternoon tea before for the drive home. On a roadside stop we find another bunny orchid, which I will not attempt to ID as I did not grab a photo of its leaf.

What better way to spend my RDO than in the company of my beautiful partner in crime Debbie and 2 of our gorgeous grandchildren, exploring for early season orchids. The amazing warm, sunny weather was the icing on the cake.

16/04/2023 ….. Bunnies found.

Esperance, Helms Arboretum, Western Australian Orchids

This time we have lunch rather than breakfast at the Esperance Bird and Animal Park. We enjoy the company of friends, Kim and Linda and I enjoy a beer 🙂 After a pleasant catch-up Deb and I decide to go check out one of our favourite orchid haunts, Helms Arboretum (Mud Map SE35). We are hunting the early season species such as the white bunnies, hare and leafless orchids.

After spending around an hour checking various locations, we struck out with the hare and leafless orchids, zero found 😦

We did however find a few White bunny orchids (Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. dilatatus) in flower. These small orchids commence flowering in April and continue into May over a large coastal range from Lancelin to Israelite Bay. The labellum is usually a cream colour with purple markings, that can range in vividness to almost non-existence.

White bunny orchid (Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. dilatatus)
Small, hairy, purple marked labellum
Dorsal sepal forms hood over column
Spreading, forward projecting lateral sepals
Up to 7, rarely 10 flowers per inflorescence
Very small petals, appear as little hands.
Showing the single leaf growing well up the stem
Showing habitat found at Helms Arboretum
Stand up to 350mm in height.
White lateral sepals

02/04/2023 ….. Season opener.

Red Lake Townsite NR, Sunday Drive, Western Australian Orchids

After enjoying the Yabbie Classic at Grass Patch on Saturday afternoon and evening we awake to a beautiful Sunday morning. Saying our goodbyes to friends, Bob and Jan we decide to head north to Redlake Townsite Nature Reserve where we try our luck with the 1st orchid hunt of the 2023 season. We are not disappointed with the small Pygmy orchid found flowering.

The Pygmy orchid (Corunastylis fuscoviridis) is the only species found in Western Australia of the 89 recognised Corunastylis species found throughout Australia. This early flowering orchid, March to May, is found between Corrigin and Eucla. The height of the orchid ranges from 50 to 200mm and each inflorescence can have up to 50 flowers of 1-2mm in size. The Pygmy orchid is similar to leek orchids (Prasophyllum) in having inverted flowers, where the labellum is above and not below the column.

Pygmy orchid (Corunastylis fuscoviridis)
Pygmy orchid (Corunastylis fuscoviridis)
Pygmy orchid (Corunastylis fuscoviridis)
Pygmy orchid (Corunastylis fuscoviridis)
Pygmy orchid (Corunastylis fuscoviridis)
Pygmy orchid (Corunastylis fuscoviridis)
Pygmy orchid (Corunastylis fuscoviridis)
Pygmy orchid (Corunastylis fuscoviridis)
Pygmy orchid (Corunastylis fuscoviridis)
Pygmy orchid (Corunastylis fuscoviridis)
Pygmy orchid (Corunastylis fuscoviridis)
Pygmy orchid (Corunastylis fuscoviridis)
Pygmy orchid (Corunastylis fuscoviridis)

23/10/2022 ….. Ride out to Ridley (Mount)

Sunday Drive, Western Australian Orchids

Today is a much sunnier day than yesterday, so our drive north will be nice and warm. After around 1 hr in the Triton we arrive at Mount Ridley where we first venture up to the Rock Art. Here we show Lorraine, my sister and brother-in-law Ken the art hidden on the underside of the hollowed-out boulder. It is quite amazing.

Providing a size perspective
The unique rock art
Returning from viewing the art

We then go exploring the nearby boulders and other interesting rocky features. It is during this walk around that amazingly, we find an orchid growing in the very hot, dry foliage, in a shallow soil pocket on the granite. The orchid is from the Rufous complex of the Pterostylis genus. The rosette is completely dried as are three of the five flowers. Another similar specimen is found further along which also has a dried rosette and four of the seven flowers are finished. The 2nd specimen appears to match the description for the Striped rufous greenhood (Pterostylis zebrina) which is recorded as flowering in September and October over a range between Karlgarin and Mt Ridley, the latter being our current location.

?? rufous greenhood – Shriveled rosette to flowering orchid.
?? rufous greenhood – 5 flowers to this orchid
?? rufous greenhood – Differing stripes to P. zebrina
?? rufous greenhood – Translucent hood
P. zebrina – Typical habitat
P.zebrina – Long hairs to labellum
P. zebrina – Up-curved lateral sepals
P. zebrina – Uniformly striped hood

We explored a bit more, enjoying the unique rock formations of the area and unexpectedly we came across some other orchids. Orchids from the Microtis genus were found growing with the “Borya” in shallow soil on the granite, with taller ones found growing in the scrub at the base of the rocks. As they had finished flowering it is not possible to positively identify them so will just leave them assigned to their genus.

?? mignonette orchid (Microtis sp.)
?? mignonette orchid (Microtis sp.)

Moving back to the carpark at the base of the rock, we enjoy a bite to eat for lunch at the old well site. Back on foot we walk around to the rock wave, for some quiet contemplation, before heading home for a coldie.

Photo opp in a hollowed out boulder
Wildflowers on Mt Ridley
Another hollowed boulder view
Quiet contemplation
Quiet contemplation
Mt Ridley Rock Wave

WA Orchid Adventures

Come with me on my Orchid Adventures in Southern Western Austalia