Rhizanthella slateri
Eastern underground orchid | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Orchidaceae |
Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
Tribe: | Diurideae |
Genus: | Rhizanthella |
Species: | R. slateri
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Binomial name | |
Rhizanthella slateri | |
Synonyms[1] | |
Cryptanthemis slateri Rupp |
Rhizanthella slateri, commonly known as the eastern underground orchid,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family and is endemic to New South Wales. It is a mycoheterotrophic herb that spends most of its life under the soil surface, its flowers only sometimes appearing a few millimetres about ground level.
Description
Rhizanthella slateri is a leafless,
Taxonomy and naming
The eastern underground orchid was first formally described in 1932 by
Distribution and habitat
Rhizanthella slateri grows in forest, usually under a deep layer of organic litter. It is known from populations in the Buladelah area, the
Conservation status
This underground orchid is listed as "endangered" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and as "vulnerable" under the New South Wales Government Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. The Bulahdelah population in the Great Lakes Local Government Area is listed as "endangered". That population was threatened by the building of a new highway, but a small diversion saved some individuals and some were able to be relocated.[2][4][5][10]
References
- ^ a b "Rhizanthella slateri". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Approved Conservation Advice for Rhizanthella slateri (eastern underground orchid)" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ Weston, Peter H. "Rhizanthella slateri". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ a b c "Eastern Australian Underground Orchid - profile". New South Wales Government Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ a b c "Rhizanthella slateri population in the Great Lakes local government area - endangered population listing". New South Wales Government Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ "Cryptanthemis slateri". APNI. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ a b Rupp, Herman (1932). "Notes on New South Wales Orchids". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 57: 58–61. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ "Rhizanthella slateri". APNI. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ "Australian Plant Collectors and Illustrators (S)". Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria Australian National Herbarium. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ Allen, Craig (5 November 2010). "Rare orchid successfully relocated". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
External links
- Media related to Eastern underground orchid (Rhizanthella slateri) at Wikimedia Commons
- Documentation of discovery and photo of specimen