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Road Trip – Day 17 – Petrudor to Walyormouring

Western Australian Orchids

17/9/2017

We wake to another beautiful spring morning, have breakfast , break camp and head south to Ballidu for morning tea. We check out the area where we found numerous orchids last year in August, however this time we only find some donkey orchids. As they have erect petals and broad, spreading lateral lobes to the labellum, I believe them to be Pale donkey orchids (Diuris sp. ‘mid-north’).

Erect petals and recurved apex to dorsal sepal
Dorsal sepal and lateral lobes have slight reddish edges
Broad reflexed dorsal sepal

Further south we go turning east at Kondut, then travelling south again to Reynoldson Flora Reserve. No orchids found but an unusual grevillea was prolific. Prickly Toothbrushes (Grevillea armigera). Verticordia the flower this reserve is famous for was just starting to flower as well.

Easy to see where the common name comes from
One of the 11 varieties that flower in this reserve. Best October – November

We pop into Wongan Hills, buy some supplies, have a counter lunch at the pub then head up to the Wongan Wildflower Walk to see if we can be lucky with finding some orchids. Deb is the lucky one who finds some very small Frog greenhoods (Pterostylis sargentii)  growing under bushes. Last August we found many spider orchids under the same bushes. Not this year though.

50 to 200 mm high with 3 to 10 stem leaves 8 to 30 mm long.
Short, broad, cupped lateral sepals joined at the base
United dorsal sepal and petals forming a hood over the column
Up to 6 green to dark brown, white banded flowers

Further along the walk we find some Purple enamel orchids (Elythranthera brunonis)  and some donkey orchids. From their features I am naming these Common donkey orchid (Diuris corymbosa) as they flower August to October and range from Gingin to Bunbury. Our location is a little ways Northeast however Atlas of Living Australia has a recorded sighting near Wongan Hills.

Short spreading petals and sepals
Small membranous labellum with two large, black basal calli
Yellow, brown and purple flowers
Broad, elongated petals.

Further along we finally find something from the Caladenia family. Ant orchid (Caladenia roei) found under a prickle bush. Taking photos proved a challenge however we had to get a shot.  Next came patches of Cowslip orchids (Caladenia flava subsp. flava)

Short down swept petals and lateral sepals
Smooth-margined, greenish-yellow labellum
This one has crossed his legs.
Common widespread fairy orchid
Also called Clown orchid, Man orchid and Jack-in-the-box.

Then on the way back to the Triton we find more donkey and enamel orchids.

Large black calli
Recurved dorsal sepal
Glossy look
Elongated petals

Leaving Wongan Hills we take the wrong turn which heads us south so we picked another route to take us back  north to Gathercole Nature Reserve. We spend the next 40 mins scouring over the granite outcrops looking for the elusive new find. More donkey orchids and Cowslips orchids were found plus a first for the day; (Prasophyllum gracile complex).  Unsure of exact species due to it being well past it’s prime.

Unsure of exact species
State of flower makes it difficult to distinguish exact species
Index finger size comparison
Usual yellow colouring

We then move North East to Dingo Rock Nature Reserve where further donkey and leek orchids are found. Exact species again not known which is a little disappointing, but we are no experts.

Exact species unknown
Appear to be Little laughing leek orchids but not 100% sure

We then made tracks East to Manmanning Nature Reserve, however no real place to pull over and as time was moving along we decided to travel south west to Oak Park picnic area to camp for the night. This little place has toilets facilities and picnic table and was situated on the banks of a creek that flows into Walyormourning Lake. A quick look around but nothing found.

6 named species found and others unable to be named. Not too bad a day. Here’s to tomorrow.

Road trip – Day 3 – Kwolyin to Marshall Rock

Western Australian Orchids

03/09/2017

After a great night catching up around the camp fire we wake to a beautiful spring morning. After breakfast we pack up camp then go for a wander around our campsite where we come across a few Ant orchids (Caladenia roei). Then we walk back towards Coarin Rock, which Richard and I climbed late afternoon yesterday, to show Deb the donkey orchids we found. However before this a fellow camper directs our attention to a lone spider orchid. NEW FIND – It appears to be a Drooping spider orchid (Caladenia radialis) as the petals and both lateral and dorsal sepals all droop and the labellum is smooth margined. This orchid flowers August to early December and range from Northampton to Jerramungup.

Smooth-margined labellum
Great little nest of ants
Drooping petals and sepals, both dorsal and lateral
Prominently red-striped, shortly-fringed or smooth-margined labellum
Two dense bands of red or cream calli

Past the ablutions on the track to the rock we find the patch with many Western wheatbelt donkey orchids (Diuris sp. ‘western wheatbelt’)and then backtrack to the Tritons for our drive to Kokerbin hill.

Twins
Great herd of donkeys

Kokerbin Hill / Kokerbin Rock is claimed to be the third largest monolith in Australia, so was a definite stop. We took a walk around the northern face to Devils Marbles and  found some Sugar orchids (Ericksonella saccharata), Ant orchids, Donkey orchids and a lone Hairy-stemmed snail orchid (Pterostylis sp ‘inland’)

Green and white flower 10-20mm long
Rounded to elongated petals
Petals and lateral sepals form crucifix
Short, spreading petals and sepals

Time to head north so we make tracks to Kellerberrin and have lunch at the lookout. A quick check around located more Western wheatbelt donkey orchids and other donkey orchids I cannot identify plus some Lemon-scented sun orchids (Thelymitra antennifera).

Brighter yellow with purple markings
Pale yellow flowers
Species name “antennifera” – to bear antennae

Time is slipping away so we head further north and pulled over to an area of woodland on the off chance of finding some orchids. The area was signposted Forsyth Woodland and it proved to be great off chance location. Deb, Richard and myself all head off in different directions to see who would find the first orchids. Deb won by finding some Blood spider orchids (Caladenia filifera). I am confident with their identification, this time. NEW FIND

Uniformly blood-red flowers
Small blood-red labellum with serrate to dentate fringe segments and 2 rows of red calli
Blood-red flowers 30 to 50mm across
Long pendulous petals and lateral sepals

Next up Deb comes across a small Mottled donkey orchid (Diuris suffusa) which flowers late August to late September in the shires of Trayning, Wyalkatchem, Koorda and Mount Marshall. NEW FIND  I find a lone Pink candy orchid (Caladenia hirta) and Deb finds a lone Fringed mantis orchid (Caladenia falcata).

Often reflexed petals, a broad reflexed dorsal sepal, narrow, reflexed, crossed lateral sepals
Short spreading petals and sepals
Single, erect, hairy leaf 100 to 200 mm long by 5 to 15 mm wide

Further Donkey orchids and Pink candy orchids groupings were found followed by a grouping of Ant orchids and a sole Sugar orchid.

Widespread, clumping orchid
Found between Kalbarri and Israelite Bay
Short spreading petals and lateral sepals.
Single, erect, hairy leaf and up to 3 greenish-yellow and red flowers
Small flowered donkey orchid 200 to 350 mm high
Up to 6 cream to pale yellow , brown marked flowers.
Crucifix shape adopted by the petals and lateral sepals

Many more Fringed mantis orchids in better shape than the first were found as was a patch of very tall Hairy-stemmed snail orchids.

United dorsal sepal and petals forms a hood over the column, erect, narrow-ended lateral sepals
Greenish-yellow, red-tipped labellum with 4 or more rows of deep red calli.
Green and white flower 10 – 20 mm long by 5 – 8 mm across
50 to 150 mm high with a rosette of leaves 20 – 50 mm across
Single, erect, hairy leaf 100 – 200 mm long by 5 – 15 mm wide
Narrow petals and up-swept, narrowly-clubbed lateral sepals

So Forsyth Woodland proved a very fruitful stop with 7 orchid species found. Sunset is looming and we have yet to settle on where to camp overnight. Our first choice, Durokoppin Nature Reserve was not suitable, so we headed north, passing through Trayning and made tracks for Marshall Rocks near Bencubbin. This was a great spot with only one other camper in residence, so we set camp for the night. I decide to quickly check the rock out for any orchids and only find some Hairy-stemmed snail orchids, as the rock and surrounding area was very weedy.

Growing in a bed of moss
Rosette 20 – 50 mm across
Erect, narrow-ended lateral sepals

A great 3rd day with 10 species found.

Road Trip – Day 2 – Wagin to Kwolyin

Western Australian Orchids

02/9/2017

After a quick breakfast and a long hot shower we make up the thermos and head off to fuel up, then make tracks for the North Wagin Nature Reserve, our first planned stop of the day. Just off the road, on the track chosen to push into the reserve, I spy a group of Jug orchids (Pterostylis recurva) which we will check out on the way back. We park the Triton and camper near a dam and head out on foot to check out this new location. First find is the Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata), quickly followed by Western wheatbelt donkey orchid (Diuris sp. ‘western wheatbelt’).

Green and white banded flowers, 8 to 10 mm across
Mostly found east of the Albany Hwy. Between York, Tenterden and Ravensthorpe
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Many donkey orchids were found and mixed in with these we found some Little pink fairy orchids (Caladenia reptans subsp. reptans) distinguished by their leaf having a red coloured underside. Another common orchid found here was the Fringed mantis orchid (Caladenia falcata) which competed with the donkey orchid to be the most common orchid in this location. As planned we took pictures of the Jug orchids as we made tracks for our next location.

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Short spreading petals and sepals with a prominently tri-lobed labellum
Spreading petals, up-swept, narrowly clubbed lateral sepals
Greenish-yellow, red tipped labellum with comb-like fringe segments
Down curved lateral sepals
Looking into the jug of the aptly named orchid
Tow to three basal leaves with up to four flowers per stem
View looking down into the labellum

Piesseville was our next location and we finally found flowering orchids, after other visits turned up leaves and buds only. As with the Wagin location the Fringed mantis orchid was very common, as were the Sugar orchids (Ericksonella saccharata), however the later were restricted to a few metres in from the road. Cowslip orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. flava) was also plentiful, but further into the bush.

Size comparison with my index finger
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Short, stiffly spreading petals and sepals

The first spider orchid found is a Chameleon spider orchid (Caladenia dimidia) and nearby a reddish version of the same flower.A very different spider orchid is then found. The Dancing spider orchid (Caladenia discoidea). Unlike previous specimens found this season near Esperance,this one finally looks like the ones in the books.

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Closer shot of the small labellum
Small, pale white or pale yellow, red-striped labellum
Long, fine fringe segments and dark purplish-black calli
Short, horizontally spreading petals and lateral sepals

In the northerly section of the location we find some Western wheatbelt donkey orchids and in the swampy section I find some Blue beards (Pheladenia deformis) of varying shades. I track down Deb who has crossed to the other side of the road and took her back to where the Blue beards were located.

Elongated petals, a short broad, dorsal sepal
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One (rarely two) blue or more rarely white, flowers 20 – 30 mm across
Narrow, upright labellum with short fringe segments and a dense mass of calli

On the way back to the Blue beards more spider orchids were found. Chameleon spider orchid, Crimson spider orchid (Caladenia footeana)  which flowers July to early October between Cranbrook and Binnu and Chapmans spider orchid (Caladenia chapmanii) which flowers September to mid-October between Boyup Brook, Kojonup and Northam, all within a few metres of each other.

Spreading petals and lateral sepals
Contrast of colours
Yellow, cream or red-pink flowers
Lateral sepals yet to be released
Prominently red-striped labellum with serrate to dentate fringe segments
Spreading petals and lateral sepals of uniform colour
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Large, white, red-striped labellum with serrate to dentate fringe segments and two rows of white or red-tipped calli

Then an OMG moment, when Deb spies an all red spider orchid. Appears to be Blood spider orchid (Caladenia filifera) NEW FIND!!!! These are found between Tenterden and Wongan Hills and flower August to early October. Not 100% certain as it was not clumping, but single flowers. Edit: After locating Blood spider orchids at Forsyth Woodland this one appears to be a red variant of another species.

Small blood-red labellum with serrate to dentate fringe segments and tow rows of red calli
Uniformly blood red flowers

Other orchids found at this location were Jug orchids and Banded greenhoods.

We moved on and called into Narrogin to buy some supplies and an extra gas cartridge for the shower unit. We then drove north-east and stopped off at North Yilliminning Nature Reserve for lunch and checked out this new location. Not far into our search and we were bombarded with yellow from so many Cowslip orchids. Various shapes, patterns and sizes with some having very long lateral sepals.

Grouping with long sepals. Deb’s hands for size comparison
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Nice family herd of Cowslips
Another herd of Cowslips with redder markings

Next orchid found was the small Sugar orchid followed closely with some Donkey orchids. Most likely, Western wheatbelt donkey orchids. Also found were some Banded greenhoods

Last two flowers for this orchid
Up to 4 flowers
Horizontally held petals and lateral sepals.

A very unusual colour catches Deb’s eye as she has found a Hybrid orchid. A Spectacular spider orchid (Caladenia x spectabilis) which is a hybrid formed by a Cowslip and Pink fairy cross pollinating. Further colour variations were found. However to muddy the waters, the Little pink fairy orchid is found which may be a parent of the hybrids, in which case the orchid is unnamed and referred to as (Caladenia flava x C. reptans). For now I will leave the judgement open.

First hybrid found
3rd colour variation. Brightest of the bunch
Another variation in colour
Dorsal sepals have both been eaten.
A 2nd colour variation
Single, relatively broad, hairy leaf 40 – 80 mm long by 8 – 10 mm wide
These little beauties may be the parents of the Hybrids found nearby

Edit: 29/10/2017 – From further investigations it appears all Hybrids found were Spectacular spider orchids due to the longer lateral sepals. Blooms August to October and found from Kalbarri to Esperance

Final orchids found were a sole Hairy stemmed snail orchid (Pterostylis sp. ‘inland’) and some further Jug orchids.

Green and white flower 10-20mm long and 3-10mm across
Hairy flower stem
Dark green, fawn and white flowers
Narrow-ended prominently recurved lateral sepals which are joined at the base

Quick toilet stop in Wickepin, which was a very neat little town with a museum for Albert Facey, who is famous for his autobiography “A Fortunate Life”. We make one final stop, before catching up with Richard, at Malyalling Nature Reserve. Along the road that dissects the N.R. I spot some Ant orchids (Caladenia roei) which flower August to October between Eurardy Station and Ravensthorpe, and when taking photos also noticed Fringed mantis orchids nearby.

Crucifix shape adopted by the petals and lateral sepals
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Upswept lateral sepals

Some Donkey orchids were also found and at the Eastern boundary of the N.R. we found a patch of  Fringed mantis orchids. Too many to count.

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We made our way back to the low granite outcrop and Deb immediately finds some purple variants of the Little laughing leek orchid (Prasophyllum gracile) which is quite rare according to my orchid book, so a great find Deb!! Also found on this rock were Lemon-scented sun orchids (Thelymitra antennifera) which flower from July to October between Shark Bay and Israelite Bay and very small donkey orchids.

Size comparison to my index finger
A distinctive column with a yellow crested mid-lobe and reddish-brown, ear like lateral lobes
Up to 40 yellowish-green, or, more rarely, purplish, flowers
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After finding 18 orchid varieties it is now time to head off for Kwolyin campground, where Richard is waiting for us. … Trio travelling begins.

Kwolyin campground

Triton and camper . Richard with Red Triton and tent.