South coast underground orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South coast underground orchid |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Rhizanthella
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| Species: |
johnstonii
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The South Coast Underground Orchid (Rhizanthella johnstonii) is a very special flowering plant. It belongs to the orchid family. You can only find it in the southwest part of Western Australia. This orchid lives completely underground. It has a root-like stem called a rhizome that grows sideways. Its flowers are small and white with a hint of pink. Up to sixty of these flowers grow together in a head. They are surrounded by creamy or pale pink leaves called bracts.
Contents
What It Looks Like
The South Coast Underground Orchid is a plant that grows entirely below the ground. It does not have any leaves. It has a horizontal stem, called a rhizome, that grows about 6 to 12 centimeters (2 to 5 inches) deep in the soil. From this rhizome, a flower stalk, or peduncle, grows upwards. This stalk can be up to 60 centimeters (2 feet) long.
Up to sixty small, white flowers with a pink tint grow on this stalk. They are arranged in spiral rows. Each flower is about 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.20 inches) wide. These flowers are surrounded by six to eight cream-colored or pale pinkish-cream leaves called bracts. This orchid looks quite similar to another underground orchid, R. gardneri.
How It Was Discovered and Named
Rhizanthella johnstonii was officially described in 2018. Two scientists, Kingsley Dixon and Maarten Christenhusz, wrote about it in a science journal called Phytotaxa. The first samples of this orchid were collected in 1979. They were found near a river called the Oldfield River by a person named Alex George.
The second part of its scientific name, johnstonii, was chosen to honor Lionel Johnston. He provided a lot of support to Kingsley Dixon, one of the scientists who described the orchid.
Where It Lives
The South Coast Underground Orchid is only found in one area. This area is around a place called Munglinup in Western Australia. It grows close to certain types of plants. These include Melaleuca uncinata, M. hamata, and another type of melaleuca plant that has not yet been given a scientific name.
Life Cycle and How It Gets Food
Just like other orchids in the Rhizanthella group, the South Coast Underground Orchid lives its entire life cycle underground. This includes when it flowers. This orchid gets its energy and food in a very special way. It is a "myco-heterotroph." This means it does not use sunlight to make its own food like most plants. Instead, it gets its nutrients from special fungi in the soil. These fungi are called mycorrhizal fungi, specifically a type called Ceratobasidium. The orchid forms a partnership with these fungi to get what it needs to grow.
Conservation Status
The South Coast Underground Orchid is a very rare and important plant. It is listed as "Threatened Flora" by the Department of Environment and Conservation in Western Australia. This means it is a rare plant that needs protection. It has also been suggested to be listed as "critically endangered" under an Australian government law called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This shows how important it is to protect this unique underground orchid.
