Rhizanthella Gardneri- The Underground Orchid
There are over 25 thousands species of orchids in the world; however Rhizanthella gardneri is especially unusual. This critically endangered orchid found only in Western Australia, spends its entire growth cycle underground. Even when it flowers the blooms are several centimetres below the soil's surface.
Interestingly the orchid has only been discovered in 1928 in Western Australia by Jack Trott while he was examining a strange crack in the garden's soil and noticed a sweet smell coming from the gap in the ground. He found a small white flower which happened to be a completely new type of orchid.
At the beginning of the rain season in autumn, the plant blooms producing a flower structure similar to a tulip. This flower head measures 2.5 to 3 cm and never emerges above ground, it only revolves the soil above it as it grows. The flower head contains up to 90 small dark red flowers. As the soil cracks appear a scent is released and spread nearby attracting flies and other small insects. Strangely, it is the first only known case of a plant that uses termites as pollinator agents.
Growing completely underneath the surface means that Rhizanthella gardneri doesn’t need sunlight and instead the orchid has evolved a parasitic relationship with the fungus and the Australian broom bush. The Fungus named "Thanatephorus gardneri" provides the orchid with mineral nutrients and sugars, while water comes from the bush named "Melaleuca uncinata"; with these ingredients the orchid creates its own food. However it is still unknown to many scientists why the orchid still has chloroplasts, cells used in photosynthesis. It has the fewest chloroplast genes found in any plant, and they are genes that are not involved in photosynthesis.
T
he Rhizanthella gardneri is extremely rare; there are only fifty known plants in the wild, in five secret locations in Western Australia. The orchids are even difficult for informed scientists to find. It often takes hours of searching under shrubs to find just one underground bloom. It is widely agreed that rapid development of agriculture and droughts are the main causes if the reduced population of Rhizanthella gardneri.
he Rhizanthella gardneri is extremely rare; there are only fifty known plants in the wild, in five secret locations in Western Australia. The orchids are even difficult for informed scientists to find. It often takes hours of searching under shrubs to find just one underground bloom. It is widely agreed that rapid development of agriculture and droughts are the main causes if the reduced population of Rhizanthella gardneri.
