Rhizanthella

Rhizanthella R.S.Rogers

Underground Orchids

Richard Rogers in J.Roy.Soc.Western Australia 15:1, t. I, II. (1928)

· · · · May Jun Jul · · · · ·

Rhizanthella species are remarkable in that they spend their entire life cycle, including flowering, below the soil surface, this feature making them unique among the world’s orchids. The two species found in Western Australia produce up to 100 small, inward facing flowers, surrounded by large floral bracts which curve over the flowers. Each plant has a horizontal rhizome 60–120 mm below the ground level which, like the rest of the plant, is succulent.