Underground Orchid Quest: Racing to Save Australia's Hidden Floral Gem

The Western Australian underground orchid is one of the world’s rarest and most mysterious flowers, living its entire life beneath the soil in Australia. Scientists are racing to save this unique plant from extinction. Kingsley Dixon, a botanist who grew up in Western Australia, was fascinated by orchids from a young age. He first saw a drawing of the underground orchid in a book and was amazed by its strange features: it has no leaves or roots and blooms underground. Dixon spent his childhood exploring the bush near Perth, collecting wild orchids, but the underground orchid remained his dream. He finally saw one in the wild at age 24, and it was a moment he would never forget.

Today, the Western Australian underground orchid is critically endangered, with only a handful of plants surviving in the wild. The number of orchids found each year can be as low as three or even none, and climate change and habitat loss are making things worse. Dixon, now a professor at the University of Western Australia, is determined to save the orchid from disappearing forever. He and other scientists are studying the orchid’s life cycle and the special relationships it has with other plants and fungi.

This orchid is unique because it spends its whole life underground. It grows, flowers, and produces seeds without ever coming to the surface. Scientists believe it is pollinated by small insects that live underground. The orchid survives thanks to a complex partnership with a bush called Melaleuca uncinata and a fungus. The fungus connects the bush to the orchid, transferring nutrients that the orchid needs to grow. This type of relationship, called a mycorrhizal association, is common in plants, but orchids depend on it even more because their seeds are tiny and lack nutrients. Without the fungus, the orchid cannot survive.

The underground orchid’s life is even more complicated because it needs both the fungus and the Melaleuca bush. If anything happens to either partner, the orchid is at risk. Climate change is a major threat, bringing higher temperatures and more frequent fires. Some orchids can survive heat by staying dormant underground, but fires can destroy the fungus and bushes that the orchid depends on. Studies show that after a fire, the fungal community changes, and the orchid may not be able to grow until the original fungi return. Fortunately, the fungus and bushes can recover over time, but if fires happen too often, the orchid may not survive.

Scientists are also trying to grow the underground orchid in a laboratory. Dixon and his team use pots with Melaleuca bushes, revive the special fungus, and plant orchid seeds on the bush’s roots. This process is difficult, but it could provide a backup if the orchid disappears from the wild. Dixon has already managed to revive the fungus and grow healthy bushes in the lab. The next step is to use stored orchid seeds and hope they will germinate.

Habitat destruction is another big problem for the underground orchid. As cities, roads, and farms spread, there are fewer places for the orchid to live. Many plants can move to new areas as the climate changes, but only if there is suitable habitat available. Dixon and other scientists stress the importance of protecting the remaining habitats and raising awareness about the orchid’s plight. At the Chelsea Flower Show in London, they displayed pictures of the underground orchid to highlight the urgent need for conservation.

The story of the Western Australian underground orchid is a reminder of how fragile rare plants can be and how important it is to protect them. With the dedication of scientists and volunteers, there is hope that this extraordinary flower will survive and continue to inspire people around the world.