Exploring Boyatup’s Unique Orchids

List of Orchids Found, Sunday Drive, Western Australian Orchids

17/08/2025

Today we head east of Esperance along Fisheries Road until we reach our first planned location, Boyatup 1 (Mud Map SE40).
Making our way along the track, then along the edges of the gravel pit, next along the track up to the Hill and finally checking the low granite areas to the SE of the hill/west of the track.
Many orchids were found and I have listed them with at least 1 photo for recording purposes.


Jug Orchid

(Pterostylis recurva)

A common species found from Geraldton to Israelite Bay.

Flowers from August to October.


Dancing spider orchid

Caladenia discoidea

A distinctive species found from Kalbarri to Israelite Bay.

Flowers between August and early-October.










Blue Beard

Pheladenia deformis

Common species found from Murchison River to Israelite Bay.

Flower between mid-May and October.


Boyatup china orchid

Cyanicula sp. “Boyatup”

A restricted orchid growing from Condingup to Boyatup Hill.

Flowers in August and September, though usually only in the season following a summer fire.


Green Range donkey orchid

Diuris littoralis

Occurs in coastal and near coastal habitats from Denmark to Esperance.

Flowers between July and early-September.


Common bee orchid

Diuris decrementum

Common species found from Wongan Hills to Israelite Bay.

Flowers between August and early-Octpber.


Esperance king spider orchid

Caladenia decora

Common species found from Bremer Bay to Cape Arid.

Flowering between mid-August and October.


Common spider orchid

Caladenia varians

Widespread orchid found from Kalbarri to Esperance.

Flowers between July and mid-October.


Mosquito orchid

Cyrtostylis robusta

Widespread species found from Perth to Israelite Bay.

Flowers between June and August.


Beautiful donkey orchid

Diuris pulchella

Widespread eastern range from Salmon Gums to Israelite Bay.

Flowers between July and September


Mallee banded greenhood

Pterostylis arbuscula

Short-statured species found from Dalwallinu to Eyre Bird Observatory.

Flowers between June and September.


Cream spider orchid

Caladenia horistes

Common species found from Fitzgerald River N.P. to Balladonia.

Flowers between August and early-October.


Western tiny blue orchid

Cyanicula aperta

Common species found from Dumbleyung to Mt Ragged.

Flowers between August and early-October.


After two and a half hours and 13 species found, we make tracks for the next spot, which is totally unplanned.
In the location of Howick we find a new location. (Howick1)
Refer to next post for details>>

Exploring Orchids at Dempster Head: A Local Hotspot

Dempster Head, Esperance, Western Australian Orchids

12/08/2025

A local orchid hotspot is the granite headland we call Dempster Head. We also refer to it as the Rotary Lookout for a very obvious reason!!
It being a beautiful, cloudless, sunny winters day, what better way to spent it than searching for the usual orchid suspects.

The first orchid found is the Mosquito orchid (Cyrtostylis robusta) which flower between June and August over a southerly range from Perth to Israelite Bay.
I located my orchids flowering under overhanding bushes on the walk trail edges. The ground hugging circular leaves grow in large numbers and are what you first notice. Then on a closer inspection you discover a few flowering specimens.


Snail orchids are also found scattered around the site. The exact species is difficult to name due to both Pterostylis voigtii and P. meridionalis named as growing in this region.
Both these orchids are smaller, grow in shallow soil pockets on granite outcrops, have bloated appearance, flared petals and slightly thickened lateral sepals.
Either they are the Eastern granite snail orchid or the Southern thick-sepaled snail orchid.
I have named as I believe them to be, however, any assistance in identifying these little guys would be appreciated.


Next up is an orchid that appears to have a restricted range in the Esperance region. The Spectacled donkey orchid (Diuris conspicillata) is listed as growing in shallow soil pockets on coastal granite outcrops in the Esperance area, which Dempster Head is an example of.
They get their name from the dark markings on the inner part of the labellum lateral lobes, which gives an impression of wearing glasses.
They are found scattered over Dempster Head usually in exposed areas but protected by a surrounding prickly shrub.


Another orchid with round ground hugging leaves is found, also growing underneath over hanging bushes.
The Crystal helmet orchid (Corysanthes limpida) is found from Walpole to Israelite Bay growing in sandy soils in coastal woodlands and shrublands.
When you come across the leaves you could mistake them for Mosquito orchids however the flowers are much shorter until they are fertilised, at which time the stem can extend up to 300mm in height.
Similarly to the Mosquito orchids, many leaves may be found but usually only a handful will produce flowers.


Not too bad a day with finding some orchids. Amazingly all orchids found belonged to a different genus.
Pterostylis, Cyrtostylis, Diuris and Corysanthes.

Amazingly I am posting this exactly 1 year later. Today however is not a beautiful fine sunny winters day, but a cold overcast winters day, hence I have time indoors to complete this post.

A Day at the Kepwari Walk Trail: Orchid Varieties Uncovered

Esperance, Western Australian Orchids, Woody Lake NR



Highlighted track walked today

Orchid Species Found on the Great Ocean Trail

Esperance, List of Orchids Found, Western Australian Orchids
Signage at an intersection







Exploring the Great Ocean Trail: Orchid Discoveries

Esperance, List of Orchids Found, Western Australian Orchids

Discovering Unique Orchids on Esperance’s Coast

Esperance, Pink Lake, Western Australian Orchids, Wind Farm


























View over Pink Lake

06/08/2023 ….. Discovering a Diverse Array of Orchids in East Esperance: A Photographic Journey

Condingup Water Reserve, Other Reserves, Sunday Drive, Western Australian Orchids
















26/07/2023 โ€ฆ.. A week spent wandering – Part 5

National Parks, Torndirrup NP, Western Australian Orchids













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

Dempster Head, Esperance, Western Australian Orchids

Father’s Day breakfast enjoyed at my son’s home with his little family. After stuffing ourselves, we all venture up to Dempster Head to walk off the excess joules. ๐Ÿ™‚ It is during our walk that we encounter the following orchids.


Often crossed lateral sepals

Spectacled donkey orchid (Diuris conspicillata)

Distribution & Habitat: Restricted to the Esperance area, growing in shallow soil pockets on coastal granite outcrops.

Up to 6 flowers per orchid

Stand up to 90mm in height.

Eastern granite snail orchid (Pterostylis voightii)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Albany & Israelite Bay, growing in shallow soil pockets on granite outcrops.

Thickened lateral sepals.

Very long sepals

White spider orchid ?? (Caladenia sp.)

Unknown species of spider orchid.

Greenish tones to petals and sepals

Up to 3 flowers per orchid

Esperance white spider orchid (Caladenia crassa)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Bremer Bay and Israelite Bay, growing in clay and sandy-clay soils in seasonally moist woodlands and shrublands. Flowers best in the season following summer fire.

Flowers are 80-140mm across

Standing 50-150mm in height

Western tiny blue orchid (Cyanicula aperta)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Dumbleyung and Mt Ragged, growing in sandy, sandy-clay and lateritic soils in woodlands and scrublands.

Bluish-mauve flowers

Short spreading petals and sepals

Pink fairies (Caladenia latifolia)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Kalbarri and Israelite Bay, growing in sandy and sandy-clay soils in forests, woodlands and shrublands. In inland areas the species grows on low rises beside salt lakes and occasionally on granite outcrops. Also found in SA, VIC and TAS.

Stand 120-450mm in height

Ground hugging leaf 20-30mm round

Crystal helmet orchid (Corybas limpidus) (Corysanthes limpidus)

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

Green and burgundy blotched flower

Broad labellum

Mosquito orchid (Cyrtostylis robusta)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Perth and Israelite Bay, growing in sandy, sandy-clay and granitic soils in forests, woodlands and shrublands. Northeast of Esperance the species occupies shallow soil pockets on granite outcrops.

Ground hugging leaf, 10-30mm round

Stands 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.

Four of more rows of calli

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.