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wa-orchids.bsky.social
WA Orchids
@wa-orchids.bsky.social
1.6K followers 260 following 650 posts
Exploring Western Australia’s native #orchids, flora, fungi, & biodiversity 🌿🪷🪻🍄. Was on X as @wa_orchids

Also posting #ausinverts, #insects & #moths at Aussie Moths
(@wa-moths.bsky.social) 🐛🪰🐞🕷️🪲🦟🦗

📍 Perth, WA (Whadjuk Noongar Boodja)
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wa-orchids.bsky.social
Drakaea thynniphila - Narrow-lipped Hammer Orchid

This orchid likes sandy open clearings in woodlands in the southwest of Western Australia and is pollinated by the male of a specific species of Thynnid Flower wasp
#orchids #ozora #wildoz #nativeplants #inaturalist #nature
Two unusually shaped orchid flowers standing next to each other. They have a red labellum shaped somewhat like an insect
November 15, 2025 at 8:48 AM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
Thelymitra crinita - Blue Lady orchid

I’ve posted this picture before, but I’m posting it again because I love the contrast between the orchid’s blue flowers and reddish orange of the Aussie bush it’s growing in 💙🧡

#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #nature #photography
Two orchid stand with a number of blue flowers growing against a reddish orange backdrop of the Australian bush
November 14, 2025 at 12:24 PM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
Thelymitra macrophylla - Scented Sun Orchid

I haven't seen too many Scented Sun Orchids this year. In good years you can find them with numerous bluish purple, fragrant flowers. Endemic to the southwest of Western Australia
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #inaturalist #nature
Picture of an orchid stem with numerous blue flowers along its length.
November 14, 2025 at 9:05 AM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
Diuris laxiflora - the Bee Orchid

A relatively small orchid, the Bee orchid is endemic to Western Australia and flowers between September and early November.

#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #nature #bloomscrolling
An orchid with the three bright yellow flowers with brownish purple markings
November 11, 2025 at 7:30 AM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
Any #pollinator visiting this Triggerplant will have far more to worry about than just being unexpectedly daubed with the plant’s pollen 🕷️

This Milky Flower Spider (Zygometis xanthogaster) is hoping for a tasty morsel

#ausinverts #ozflora #wildoz #spider #arachnid #inaturalist #nature
A spider that is generally white with brown patterns on its abdomen hangs upside down underneath a small pink flower
November 10, 2025 at 8:30 AM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
Paracaleana nigrita - Flying Duck Orchid

One of the more common of the Duck Orchids to be found in Western Australia. These curious looking orchid flowers can be seen between August & October
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #inaturalist #nature
Picture of three reddish green orchid flowers that resemble the shape of a duck
November 10, 2025 at 6:11 AM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
Caladenia plicata - the Crab-lipped Spider orchid

Found in the forests of southwest Western Australia, this orchid has a very distinctive labellum with long fringing at the sides
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #natuveplants #inaturalist #nature
An orchid flower that is a mix of red, yellow, and pale green. The orchid has a labellum with long, spreading fringes
November 9, 2025 at 5:50 AM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
Caladenia attingens - the Forest Mantis orchid

Relatively common in the southwest of Western Australia, this orchid is quite distinctive with its broad labellum and upswept lateral sepals
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #inaturalist #nature
Side view of an orchid that is mainly green with some red. The orchid holds its lateral (bottom) sepals in an upswept nnner
November 9, 2025 at 1:52 AM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
Caladenia discoidea - Dancing Spider Orchid

Flowering between August and early October, the botanical name of this orchid reflects its characteristic rounder, broader labellum - discoidea, from the Latin discoideus, meaning disc shaped
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #inaturalist
Picture showing an orchid flower from the side. The orchid has relatively short petals and sepals with a labellum that is quite large with long side fringes and compact calli in the centre
November 5, 2025 at 12:46 PM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
Caladenia footeana - the Crimson Spider Orchid

A small but brightly coloured orchid endemic to Western Australia, the Crimson Spider Orchid flowers between July and October
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #inaturalist
Picture of an orchid flower that has petals and sepals that are mainly bright red in colour. The orchid's labellum is a contrasting white with red stripes and red calli in the middle
November 5, 2025 at 12:27 PM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
There are Sun Orchids (Thelymitra sp.) still flowering in the Perth Hills and the Hover flies were loving them today 💙🪰

#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #ausinverts #diptera #pollinators #nature
Picture of an orchid with two blue flowers that are open and several buds that are still closed at the top of the stem. To the right of the flower a Hover fly can seen in flight in mid-air
November 4, 2025 at 11:47 AM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
The storm clouds are building in the Perth Hills ☁️🌩️🌧️

#weather #storm #clouds #photography #WesternAustralia
Photo of dark clouds building over a tree covered valley and over to the hills beyond
November 4, 2025 at 6:48 AM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
Stylidium utricularioides - the Pink Fan Triggerplant

One of the triggerplants endemic to Western Australia, this distinctive species grows in winter wet areas and flowers in late spring through to early summer

#ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #inaturalist #nature
Close up picture of a triggerplant flower in pink and white. The top two petals are smaller than the two bottom petals which are broadly rounded at their tips Picture of a triggerplant with numerous flowers in pink and white. The top two petals of each flower are smaller than the two bottom petals, which are broadly rounded at their tips
November 4, 2025 at 4:06 AM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
Caladenia barbarossa - the Common Dragon Orchid

An orchid that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia where it is quite widespread. This is an orchid that engages in sexual deception of its unsuspecting pollinators, male Thynnid wasps
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #inaturalist
Picture of an unusually shaped orchid that is green and red in colour. The sepals of the orchid are held out almost like legs and the labellum appears quite wooly
November 3, 2025 at 6:22 AM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
Stylidium eriopodum - commonly called the Boomerang Triggerplant

Like all Triggerplants, this plant has a floral column on a sensitive trigger which reacts to the flower being touched and coats any visiting #pollinators in pollen. Endemic to WA

#ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #inaturalist #nature
Photo of a plant covered in small yellow flowers with a red band in the middle. The top two petals are shaped like boomerangs Photo of a small yellow flower with a red band in the middle and white centre. The top two petals are shaped like boomerangs
October 29, 2025 at 10:15 PM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
Verticordia huegelii - Variegated Featherflower

Part of the Myrtle family, the delicate feathery flowers of this Verticordia start out white, becoming pink and then red as they age giving a variegated appearance
#ozflora #wildoz #myrtle #nativeplants #inaturalist #nature
Picture of a cluster of feathery flowers in white and very pale pink Close up o icture of a cluster of feathery flowers in white and very pale pink Picture of a cluster of feathery flowers, some in white and some a dark pink Picture of a cluster of feathery flowers most of which are a deep pinky red in colour
October 29, 2025 at 1:15 PM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
Drakaea livida - the Warty Hammer Orchid

Seen at the end of September in the Perth Hills. This orchid is pollinated by the males of one species of Thynnid wasp who mistake the orchid’s unusual labellum for a flightless female wasp

#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #inaturalist #nature
Side view of an unusually shaped orchid with a hinged labellum of a deep purple/red colour on the right of the picture
October 28, 2025 at 10:11 PM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
While the flowers of Fringe Lilies (Thysanotus sp.) are usually a beautiful deep purple colour, occasionally you can spot a Fringe Lily with flowers in other stunning colours 💜🤍🩶🩷

These were flowering today in the Perth Hills
#ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #bloomsrolling #nature #inaturalist
A Fringe Lily flower in the usual deep purple colour A Fringe Lily flower which is snow White in colour A Fringe Lily flower which is silver grey in colour A Fringe Lily flower which is pale pink in colour
October 28, 2025 at 10:50 AM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
💜💜 It’s very hard not to fall in love with the gorgeous Fringe Lily (Thysanotus sp.)

There are around 54 species of Fringe Lily, most being endemic to Australia and especially the biodiversity hotspot of Western Australia

#ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #bloomscrolling #inaturalist
Picture of two deep purple Fringe Lily flowers, each with three delicately fringed petals Picture of a deep purple Fringe Lily flower, with three delicately fringed petals and offset purple sepals
October 28, 2025 at 6:38 AM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
A little gathering of Silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) thoroughly enjoying the garden bird bath in the Perth Hills.

As the weather warms, please leave safe water sources out for the wildlife in your garden… they’ll really thank you for it!
#ausbirds #wildoz #birds
October 27, 2025 at 6:25 AM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
From a quick wander along the Bibbulmun Track, near Mundaring in the Perth Hills.

🌱 Cowslip Orchids
🌿 Stylidium recurvum
🍄‍🟫 Common Greensheild Lichen

#ozflora #orchids #lichen #wildoz #spring #nativeplants
Picture of a walk trail through a wooded area with a yellow trail marker attached to the trunk of a tree in the foreground Two lemon yellow cowslip orchids side by side Closeup picture of a small, mainly pink, flower with a yellow centre. The flower carries its pollen on a trigger which bands under the flower to the left A small, dead twig with a patch of green lichen
October 26, 2025 at 9:42 PM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
Pterostylis barbata - Bird Orchid

One of Western Australia's more unusual looking orchids. The orchid's labellum is triggered by visiting pollinators trapping them inside the orchid's hood and forcing them to escape past the orchid's pollinia
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #inaturalist
A translucent green and white orchid which is shaped rather like the silhouette of a bird
October 25, 2025 at 12:27 PM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
The wildflower season in the Perth Hills hadn’t finished yet, still lots to see! Seen today:

🌱 Winged Stackhousia
🌿 One-sided Bottlebrush
🍃 Stylidium recurvum triggerplant
🍂 Featherflowers

For those in the Southern hemisphere, record what you see on #inaturalist for #GSB2025
#ozflora #wildoz
Tripterococcus brunonis - Winged Stackhousia - a stem with yellow tubular flowers that are star shaped in appearance Melaleuca quadrifida - One-sided Bottlebrush - shrub with feathery red flowers Stylidium recurvum - a triggerplant that grows in a rounded mound and has lots of small peachy, pink flowers all over it Verticordia acerosa - a shrub with bright yellow, fading to orange, flowers that have a feathered appearance
October 24, 2025 at 10:55 AM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
A bit of rain overnight made for a beautiful, misty sunrise this morning

📍 Overlooking Kalamunda National Park
📆 24 October 2025

#sunrise #clouds #weather #WesternAustralia
View over the Perth Hills with mist gathering in the valley below and clouds above picking out the peachy colour of sunrise
October 23, 2025 at 10:13 PM
wa-orchids.bsky.social
Have you ever seen gold on a flower before?

This is the flower of the carnivorous plant Drosera calycina, which has striking deep red petals and sepals that glitter like gold in the afternoon sunlight.
#ozflora #fierceflora #Droseraceae #wildoz #nativeplants #bloomscrolling #nature
A stem with two flowers and one bud. The flowers have four deep red petals, contrasting bright yellow pollen, and sepals that appear golden in the sunlight
October 21, 2025 at 6:33 AM