Rhizanthella gardneri

Rhizanthella gardneri R.S.Rogers

Underground Orchid

Richard Rogers in J.Roy.Soc.Western Australia 15:1 (1930)

Babakin to Corrigin, growing in dense thickets of Melaleuca scalena. Plants mostly occur within 100 mm of the base of the Melaleuca but on rare occasions can occur further away. Soil is either sandy-clay or sandy-loam.

· · · · May Jun · · · · · ·

A rare species with up to 100 small, inward facing, pinkish-red to deep red and cream flowers 4–5 mm across, surrounded by six to 12 large cream to pinkish-cream floral bracts which form a tulip-like head. On rare occasions flowering heads may protrude a few mm above the soil but are usually hidden by a covering of leaf and bark litter.

It is distinguished from the closely related South Coast Underground Orchid (Rhizanthella johnstonii) by its earlier flowering period, usually darker coloured floral bracts, more numerous flowers and more northerly distribution.

Threatened (Critically Endangered)