| Joined: | Wed Oct 14th, 2020 |
| Location: | Australia |
| Posts: | 76 |
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"Richard, these are superb, so many tiny orchids, it's amazing and the variety, there seem so many."
We reportedly have 410 native orchid species in Victoria.
I will get to Western Australia for some orchid overload. I do hope to see the Queen of Sheba, all 3 variants at some stage.
Here are a few links for the Queen of Sheba
http://orchidswa.com.au/thelymitra-sun-orchids/queen-of-sheba/
In case some of the links are geolocked I will put the text in a quote
https://www.smh.com.au/national/orchid-fever-as-10-year-quest-finally-unlocks-queen-of-sheba-s-secret-20200521-p54vb6.html
Orchid hunters are a real group of people, and Western Australia is one of the best places in the world to be one – especially when one of the world's most rare and spectacular specimens is primed for a comeback.
The orchid family is the largest plant family in the world with 25,000 species, but the greatest diversity of species is in only a few spots globally, according to Kings Park orchid conservation scientist Belinda Davis.
Albany orchid enthusiast Keith Smith helped collect the seeds that have led to the Queen's comeback.
One of these is the biodiversity hotspot that is WA's South West. The state is home to almost 400 orchid species, nearly three-quarters of which are endemic, meaning they don't occur anywhere else. Of those, 77 are of conservation concern.
One of the rarest is the Queen of Sheba, the holy grail for orchid people – colourful characters, according to Dr Davis.
https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/news/conserving-the-queen-of-sheba
Conserving The Queen of Sheba
Only growing in the south-west of Western Australia, the stunning Queen of Sheba orchid (Theylmitra variegata) boasts a single dark green, spiral-shaped leaf and up to five glossy, red, purple or violet flowers.
Historically, this beauty grew in the heart of Perth, but a loss of habitat through clearing eradicated many populations, and Theylmitra variegata It is now restricted to just a few small and isolated populations between Bunbury and Albany, which have suffered from trampling due to foot traffic and poaching in recent years.
Racing to save this vibrant species from extinction, orchid researchers at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) and Kings Park and Botanic Garden (KPBG) in Perth have together made a major conservation breakthrough by successfully germinating and growing Theylmitra variegata.
The two lab groups, led by Dr Noushka Reiter (RBGV) and Dr Belinda Davis (KPBG) have been working together across the continent, with field assistance from Keith Smith, Dr Ryan Phillips at Latrobe University and volunteers. By joining forces, they have been able to optimise propagation techniques and establish permanent populations of the Queen of Sheba at both botanic gardens for the purpose of conservation.
Orchids rely on specific fungi to germinate their microscopic seed, making some species extremely difficult to grow in cultivation. However, the team was able to meticulously extract the symbiotic fungus Theylmitra variegata relies on from the roots of a wild plant, and grow the fungus in a petri dish in the lab before adding precious Theylmitra variegata seed.
“We were thrilled to discover and replicate the optimum nutrition and conditions to grow this iconic and endangered orchid in the lab,†says Dr Noushka Reiter, leader of the orchid conservation team at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. “As a result, we now have insurance populations at both botanic gardens and will be in a position to introduce the Queen of Sheba back into the wild in the coming years.â€
The beautiful plants the teams have grown will be used for seed orcharding, and eventual introduction back into the wild.
You can donate to the Orchid Conservation Program here, to ensure the team can continue their vital work saving our rarest and most threatened native orchids from extinction.
Published on 1st April 2020
Last edited on Thu Oct 29th, 2020 20:46 by Richard_M