Metallic sun orchid (๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ญ๐บ๐ฎ๐ช๐ต๐ณ๐ข ๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฑ๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ฐ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ด)& Coloured spider-orchid (๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ช๐ข ๐ค๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ข๐ต๐ข)
A very orchid story
Orchids have a reputation for being one of the most difficult plant groups to propagate and return to the wild.
That is because of specialized associations with a place, a fungi and a pollinator.
These requirements make conservation that extra bit tricky, but they also ensure projects are rigorous.
In fact scientists are discovering many plant species have similar specialist associations. Could we improve our conservation outcomes if we thought more like an orchid?
Listen to the full story and meet the conservation team in our dedicated Podcast:
Find out more about orchid conservation as part of the Royal Botanic Garden Victoria Orchid Conservation program
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Interviewees: Dr Noushka Reiter (Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria), Susan Taylor (Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning) and Shannon Dwyer (Gippsland Water). Special thanks for their time and making the extra effort of filming when COVID lockdown prevented in person visits
A special thanks to Tobias Hayashi, Dr Zoe- Joy Newby and Adjunct Associate Professor Mark Brundrett for use of their orchid, pollinator and mycorrhiza pelleton images. Caladenia pumila featured image credit Dr Noushka Reiter
This story has been produced with the support of the Australian Network for Plant Conservation and the Ross Trust