Orchidaceae (Orchids) >

For many orchid enthusiasts, seeing and enjoying native orchids in their natural habitat is a dream come true. Indeed, many species can only be found under certain conditions, at certain times of the year and in specific habitats.

For those who can’t get to see them in the flesh, we hope you share the enjoyment of the listed orchids. Many thank to our contributors of orchid images, with special thanks to Terry Dunham for his passion.

Click on the image to see information on the different orchids.

Caladenia barbarossa (Dragon Orchid), Stirling Range National Park WA © Terry Dunham
Caladenia barbarossa (Dragon Orchid)
Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana (Dwarf Spider Orchid), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana (Dwarf Spider Orchid)
Caladenia corynephora (Club-lipped Spider Orchid), Northcliffe WA © Terry Dunham
Caladenia corynephora (Club-lipped Spider Orchid)
Caladenia drummondii (Winter Spider Orchid), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Caladenia drummondii (Winter Spider Orchid)
Caladenia integra (Smooth-lipped Spider Orchid), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Caladenia integra (Smooth-lipped Spider Orchid)
Pink Fairies (Caladenia latifolia), Wilsons Promontory National Park VIC
Caladenia latifolia (Pink Fairies)
Caladenia lobata (Butterfly Spider Orchid), Stirling Range National Park WA © Terry Dunham
Caladenia lobata (Butterfly Spider Orchid)
Flying Duck Orchid (Caleana major), Blue Mountains NSW © Katrina Leel
Caleana major (Flying Duck Orchid)
Caladenia melanema (Ballerina Orchid), South-west WA © Terry Dunham
Caladenia melanema (Ballerina Orchid)
Caladenia polychroma (Joseph's Spider Orchid), Stirling Range National Park WA © Terry Dunham
Caladenia polychroma (Joseph’s Spider Orchid)
Caladenia pulchra (Slender Spider Orchid), Stirling Range National Park WA © Terry Dunham
Caladenia pulchra (Slender Spider Orchid)
Tiny Caladenia (Caladenia pusilla), Lime Bay Nature Reserve, Tasman Peninsula, TAS
Caladenia pusilla (Tiny Caladenia)
Caladenia serotina (Christmas Spider Orchid), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Caladenia serotina (Christmas Spider Orchid)
Thick-lip Spider-Orchid (Caladenia tessellata), Wilsons Promontory National Park VIC
Caladenia tessellata (Thick-lip Spider-Orchid)
Cephalotus follicularis (Western Australian Pitcher Plant), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Cephalotus follicularis (Western Australian Pitcher Plant)
Cryptostylis ovata (Slipper Orchid), Stirling Range National Park WA © Terry Dunham
Cryptostylis ovata (Slipper Orchid)
Pink Rock Orchid (Dendrobium kingianum), Stony Range Regional Botanic Garden, Dee Why NSW
Dendrobium kingianum (Pink Rock Orchid)
Sydney Rock Orchid (Dendrobium speciosum), Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW
Dendrobium speciosum (Sydney Rock Orchid)
Drakaea glyptodon (King-in-his-carriage Orchid), Stirling Range National Park WA © Terry Dunham
Drakaea glyptodon (King-in-his-carriage Orchid)
Drakaea livida (Warty Hammer Orchid), Stirling Range National Park WA © Terry Dunham
Drakaea livida (Warty Hammer Orchid)
Elythranthera emarginata (Pink Enamel Orchids), Stirling Range National Park WA © Terry Dunham
Elythranthera emarginata (Pink Enamel Orchids)
Epiblema grandiflorum (Babe-in-a-cradle Orchid), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Epiblema grandiflorum (Babe-in-a-cradle Orchid)
Ericksonella saccharata (Sugar Orchid), Stirling Range National Park WA © Terry Dunham
Ericksonella saccharata (Sugar Orchid)
Wax-lip Orchid (Glossodia major), Warrumbungle National Park, NSW.
Glossodia major (Wax-lip Orchid)
Leptoceras menziesii (Rabbit Orchid), Stirling Range National Park WA © Terry Dunham
Leptoceras menziesii (Rabbit Orchid)
Microtis cupularis (Cupped Mignonette Orchid), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Microtis cupularis (Cupped Mignonette Orchid)
Paracaleana nigrita (Flying Duck Orchid), Stirling Range National Park WA © Terry Dunham
Paracaleana nigrita (Flying Duck Orchid)
Floodplain Rustyhood (Pterostylis cheraphila), near Cohuna VIC © Ken Walker
Pterostylis cheraphila (Floodplain Rustyhood)
Pterostylis ciliata (Hairy Rufous Greenhood), Stirling Range National Park WA © Terry Dunham
Pterostylis ciliata (Hairy Rufous Greenhood)
Pterostylis picta (Painted Rufous Greenhood), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Pterostylis picta (Painted Rufous Greenhood)
Rhizanthella johnstonii (Southern Underground Orchid), Goldfields Esperance Region WA © Terry Dunham
Rhizanthella johnstonii (Southern Underground Orchid)
Spiculaea ciliata (Elbow Orchid), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Spiculaea ciliata (Elbow Orchid)
Thelymitra sp.'Ongerup' (Orange Sun Orchids), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Thelymitra sp.’Ongerup’ (Orange Sun Orchids)
Variable colours of the Thelymitra speciosa (Eastern Queen of Sheba's), Stirling Range National Park WA © Terry Dunham
Thelymitra speciosa (Eastern Queen of Sheba’s)

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Phylum: Charophyta
  • Class: Equisetopsida
  • Subclass: Magnoliidae
  • Superorder: Lilianae
  • Order: Asparagales
  • Family: Orchidaceae

Footnote & References

  1. Orchidaceae Juss., Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/taxon/apni/51414453
  2. Orchids Family Orchidaceae, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/47217-Orchidaceae
  3. Orchid, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchid
  4. Orchid Obsession in Western Australia – Ian’s Eye-Site, http://www.ianseyesite.net/Orchids_2021_05_17.pdf
  5. The Australian Orchid Foundation Publications, https://australianorchidfoundation.org.au/publications-of-the-australian-orchid-foundation/

OrchidaceaeOrchidaceae Index Caladenia barbarossa (Dragon Orchid) Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana (Dwarf Spider Orchid) Caladenia corynephora (Club-lipped Spider Orchid) Caladenia drummondii (Winter Spider Orchid) Caladenia integra (Smooth-lipped Spider Orchid) Caladenia latifolia (Pink Fairies) Caladenia lobata (Butterfly Spider Orchid) Caleana major (Flying Duck Orchid) Caladenia melanema (Ballerina Orchid) Caladenia polychroma (Joseph’s Spider Orchid) Caladenia pulchra (Slender Spider Orchid) Caladenia pusilla (Tiny Caladenia) Caladenia serotina (Christmas Spider Orchid) Caladenia tessellata (Thick-lip Spider Orchid) Cephalotus follicularis (Western Australian Pitcher Plant) Cryptostylis ovata (Slipper Orchid) Dendrobium kingianum (Pink Rock Orchid) Dendrobium speciosum (Rock Orchid) Drakaea glyptodon (King-in-his-carriage Orchid) Drakaea livida (Warty Hammer Orchid) Elythranthera emarginata (Pink Enamel Orchid) Epiblema grandiflorum (Babe-in-a-cradle Orchid) Ericksonella saccharata (Sugar Orchid) Glossodia major (Wax-lip Orchid) Leptoceras menziesii (Rabbit Orchid) Microtis cupularis (Cupped Mignonette Orchid) Paracaleana nigrita (Flying Duck Orchid) Pterostylis cheraphila (Floodplain Rustyhood) Pterostylis ciliata (Hairy Rufous Greenhood) Pterostylis picta (Painted Rufous Greenhood) Rhizanthella johnstonii (Southern Underground Orchid) Spiculaea ciliata (Elbow Orchid) Thelymitra antennifera (Lemon-scented Sun Orchid) Thelymitra sp. Ongerup (Orange Sun Orchids) Thelymitra speciosa (Eastern Queen of Sheba’s)

FloraFlora in Australia Flora Index Acacia Anigozanthos (Kangaroo Paws) Annual Yellowtop Apium prostratum subsp. prostratum var filiforme Apple Bush (Pterocaulon sphacelatum) Australian Bluebell Australian Gossypium Banksia Batswing Coral Tree Billy Buttons Birdsville Indigo Blue Pincushion Bush Banana Callistemon Callitris drummondii (Drummond’s Cypress Pine) Calothamnus quadrifidus Cape Honeysuckle Cassia fistula (Golden Shower) Cattle Bush Common Heath Crotalaria Darwinia wittwerorum (Wittwer’s Mountain Bell) Daviesia oppositifolia (Rattle-pea) Desert Oaks Drumsticks Eremophila Eucalyptus Ficus Flannel Cudweed (Actinobole uliginosum) Georges Indigo Goatshead Burr (Sclerolaena bicornis) Golden Everlasting Goodenia Gossypium Grass and Grasses Grass Trees Grevillea Grey Germander Hakea Kapok Bush (Aerva javanica) Lambertia sp Leptospermum MacDonnell Ranges Cycad Maireana scleroptera Mexican Poppy Minnie Daisy Mistletoe Family Nardoo Native Apricot Nicotiana megalosiphon subspecies sessilifolia Nuytsia floribunda Orange Spade Flower Orchidaceae Parakeelyas (Calandrinia) Pebble Bush (Stylobasium spathulatum) Perennial Yellow Top Pink Everlasting Pink Rock Wort Poached Egg Daisy Portulaca Proteaceae Ptilotus Quandong Resurrection Fern Rosy Dock Ruby Saltbush Santalum Solanum Spike Centaury Spinifex Storkbill (Erodum cygnorum) Striped Mint Bush Sturt’s Desert Pea Sturt’s Desert Rose Tall Saltbush Tangled Leschenaultia Tar Vine Tribulus eichlerianus Upside-down Plant Urodon dasyphylla Variable Daisy Waratah (Telopea) Wertabona Daisy White Cedar (Melia azedarach) White Indigo White Paper Daisy Wild Passionfruit Wild Stock Woolly-Headed Burr Daisy Woolly Bush Yellow-keeled Swainsona