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Exoctic Orchids
About 1,200 to 1,400 orchid species exist in Australia, and approximately 80% of these orchids are exclusive to Australia. Many of these Australian orchids have some extremely specialized adaptations which have not been seen elsewhere in the orchid family. The endangered Blue Orchid (Durabaculum Nindii) of North Eastern Queensland is an example of one of the 1,200 native Australian orchids. The Common Dragon Orchid (Drakonorchis Barbarossa) is an another example of a unique Western Australian ground orchid. This orchids mimics a wingless female wasp to entice the male to mate and to bring about pollination. More examples of other highly specialized Australian orchids include two species of native orchids which spend their entire life-cycle underground. One of these Australian orchids is the endemic genus Rhizanthella, members of which complete their entire life-cycle underground. Many ground orchids from Southern Australia have become so specialized that they can deceive and also lure the males of a specified species of insect to their flowers to guarantee pollination. The scientists who are studying orchids at the CPBR use the Australian National Herbarium orchid collection of around 48,000 dried specimens, 19,500 spirit-preserved specimens of orchids and 18,500 cards of dissected flowers, as well as the collection of various live plants at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Licensed orchid collectors in Australia send the orchid specimens to the CPBR which they gather from the bush across Australia. The Western Australian orchids, which are usually all terrestrial, are in a class of their own compared to those found in Brazil, the Malay States, India, and other tropical places, for size, vividness of color, and unique markings. What really endears the botanist, young and old, to an Australian orchid is their delicate tints, fragile and dainty form, rare structure of various orchid species, and their creative methods of fertilization. Resources
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