17/08/2024
So today we decide to head north of Esperance to see what the season has produced. We don’t get far before we pull into our first stop of the day.
Helms Arboretum is always a favourite stop.
Starting off small the first orchid found was the Zebra orchid (Caladenia cairnsiana).
These orchids are found growing between Lancelin and Esperance. They have only recently started flowering as their season commences in August and extends to early-November.
They are recorded as growing to heights of 400mm which would be amazing to find. Our specimens are more around the 200mm range.
Next our targeted orchid the Grass-leafed spider orchid (Caladenia graminifolia) was found.
These orchids also commence their flowering in August, then until September only.
They range from Mt Manypeaks to Israelite Bay so appears restricted to the south coast.
The Esperance king spider orchid (Caladenia decora) was represented by a single specimen found nearby the aforementioned orchids.
This king spider orchid is located from Bremer Bay to Cape Arid. Its season is mid-August to October.
We don’t stay longer at Helms as we only popped in here to find a flowering Grass-leafed spider orchid.
Our next stop is near Gibson14. We walk along the tracks and every so often we venture into the surrounding scrub.
A solitary Blue beard (Pheladenia deformis) is found first.
These orchids flower from late-May to October.
In WA they occur between Murchison River to Israelite Bay.
As this area has been burnt in the last few years, we were still able to find some Redbeaks (Pyrorchis nigricans) in flower.
Redbeaks flower from August to October.
They are found from Shark Bay to Israelite Bay, which is one of the largest ranges for an orchid in WA.
Throughout the area checked we came across a few patches of the Cowslip orchid (Caladenia flava subsp. flava).
This subspecies is the most widespread and ranges between Northampton and Israelite Bay.
It also has the longest flowering season; July to early-December.
There are 4 subspecies of the Cowslip orchid. The other 3 are restricted to much smaller ranges that all overlap the range of the subspecies found around Esperance.
We did make an exciting find of a hammer orchid leaf in bud.
From the leaf I believe it will be the King-In-His-Carriage orchid (Drakaea glyptodon).
These orchids flower August to October over a range between Eneabba and Esperance.
However, the most prolific orchid found at this location was the Esperance king spider orchid.
It was found either as a lonely specimen or in good size groups.
If any of the flowers pictured are the similar C. heberleana, please comment on this post.
We move further north up the highway to another location in the Gibson area 15.
A gate had been installed which precluded us for heading down the track. We instead checked out the verge and walked a bit into the scrub.
Hiding under the verge scrub we find the Jug orchid (Pterostylis recurva).
This unusual but common orchid is found between Geraldton and Israelite Bay.
Flowering season is only from August to October
Deb has her eye in for spying orchids as she stumbles across an exciting find for this location.
The first orchid found is so small. Refer pic with the tip of my index finger for size comparison.
The Reaching spider orchid (Caladenia arrecta) is so named due to its erect petals.
Found between Bindoon and Israelite Bay.
Flowering season from late-July to mid-October.
We now move onto a new location, further north. We turn left at Hawkey Road them immediately right into Swan Lagoon Road. Our first stop 16 along this road is down a track in some bushland.
We take this slowly and regularly get out to walk along and into the surrounding scrub. It is along this track that we pull over and have lunch from the back of the Triton.
The orchid that stands out for this location is the Western Tiny Blue orchid (Cyanicula aperta). It was found in huge numbers.
They are found flowering from August to early-October between Dumbleyung and Mt Ragged.
They have horizontally held petals and lateral sepals and can grow up to 150mm in height.
Another very similar orchid is also found, however not is such great numbers.
The Sugar orchid (Ericksonella saccharata) flowers in August and September between Paynes Find and Israelite Bay.
A small number of Midget greenhoods (Pterostylis mutica) were found along the way.
These orchids flower from July to October between Wongan Hills and the SA border.
They can grow to 200mm in height and can have up to 15 small green flowers.
A further Pterostylis orchid is found in small numbers.
The Brittle snail orchid (Pterostylis timothyi) flowers July to September between Lake Cronin and Esperance.
Some distinctive features are having a small rosette of pointed prominently veined leaves and only one or two stem leaves.
The we find one of the newest named Greenhoods. The Mallee banded greenhood (Pterostylis arbuscula) was formally named in 2018.
The flower between Dalwallinu and Eyre bird observatory during the months June and July.
As we are now in August this could explain why we only found two still in flower.
Amazingly we find a Grass-leafed spider orchid in this new location. So that makes a third spot we have found this orchid. Helms and Stokes NP are the other locations.
Another orchid of the Pterostylis genus is found. Only one specimen found, so was very lucky to have spotted it.
This time it is the Dwarf shell orchid (Pterostylis brevichila) which flowers from July to September.
It has an inland southeastern range, occurring from Hyden to Mt Ragged.
The Jug orchid is found at numerous spots in this location.
Pictures taken for registration purposes.
Just before we decide to have a break for lunch, we finally find a donkey orchid.
There are 2 possible ID’s for these orchids. They could be the South Coast donkey orchid (Diuris brockmanii) or the Yellow granite donkey orchid (Diuris hazeliae).
Flowering is June to early August and Aug to September respectively.
So, the ones that already have finished flowers could very well be the former.
As both are recorded for the Grass Patch area any assistance in positive ID would be appreciated.
Note the brightness of the yellow is greatest with the mobile phone pics.
Whilst eating lunch we still explore nearby.
It is here we find some different orchids than found previously today.
Due to the location, they must be the Small mantis orchid (Caladenia attingens subsp. gracillima).
These orchids flower from August to early-October between Jerramungup and Israelite Bay.
The flowers are green, yellow and red in colour and can grow up to 350mm in height.
The prominently upcurved lateral sepals are distinctive to most mantis orchids.
Back on Swan Lagoon Road we travel further north and pull into another track which is much shorter, so we walk it. 17
Blown away by the numbers of Western tiny blue orchids found.
I have posted a video below to show how many occur in say 1 square metre.
Another previously found orchid is also found in greater numbers.
The Midget greenhood rears it lime green coloured head again.
Also found was another Mallee banded greenhood.
Moving further north again we make a final stop in the Swan Lagoon Nature Reserve.
Initially we turn up nothing in the lagoon area however further afield our luck changes.
Seems a regular occurrence today. Blue beards are also found in greater numbers than earlier today.
Well, we finally start finding the small spider orchids in flower. Actually, we find loads of them, and they may possibly be 2 species.
One is definitely the Western wispy spider orchid (Caladenia microchila).
This orchid is a common southeastern inland species. It is found between Kondinin and Madura.
Flowers occur July through to early-October.
If another species is apparent from the pictures supplied, can you please enlighten me. I am swaying to C. dimidia or C. horistes
Intermixed with the wispy style spider orchids we also find the Short sepaled spider orchid (Caladenia brevisura) standing proud.
These orchids flower between Jerramungup and Israelite Bay during August and September.
The common name refers to the shortened sepal tips, when compared to the similar C. doutchiae.
Larger spider orchids appear as we progress with our exploration of this Nature Reserve.
Due to the shorter length of the petals and sepals, plus the dull white colouring I believe they are the Reclining spider orchid (Caladenia cruscula).
These orchids are found between Salmon Gums and Mt Ragged / Israelite Bay.
Flowering during August and September.
More donkey orchids are found near the large spider orchids.
Positive ID again not attempted. Could be D. hazeliae or D. brockmanii. Thoughts??
Midget and Mallee greenhood orchids were also found at this location. Pics for recording purposes.
Our final orchid of the day was the small Sigmoid spider orchid (Caladenia sigmoidea) which was very exciting.
The name “Sigmoid” refers to the ‘S’ shaped labellum tip.
These orchids grow between Mt Jackson and Mt Ragged.
Flowering during the months of July, August and September.
They are very small, ranging from 50 to 150mm in height. Their colouring blends into their surroundings. This makes finding them difficult.
We were blown away by the numbers found. Previously, we have only found them solo or as spread-out isolated specimens.
Well, this hunt was a great success. So many orchids found, with some in huge numbers.
The highlights were the patches of Western tiny blue orchids and the large number of Sigmoid spider orchids found.
At least 20 species found!!