Rhizanthella gardneri
Underground Orchid
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This amazing orchid spends its entire lifecycle underground. Its flowers grow
up to just beneath the surface of the ground under a layer of leaf litter.
They grow in association with Melaleuca uncinata. What appears to be pink
petals are actually bracts that form a tulip shaped covering over the flowers.
The small black lumps within the flower are the individual flowers. Each flowering
head can produce up to 100 flowers. The entire flowering head is about 2.5-3cm
across.
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Rhizanthella gardneri |
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 Rhizanthella gardneri Underground Orchid View with only leaf litter removed. |
