Hidden beneath the surface, Rhizanthella is one of nature’s most remarkable orchids — a plant that spends its entire life underground. Lacking leaves and visible stems, it survives by feeding on nutrients provided by a symbiotic fungus, which in turn draws sustenance from the soil and the roots of the broom bush (Melaleuca uncinata).
The species first captured global attention in 1928, when a farmer ploughing a field in Western Australia unearthed its strange, subterranean blooms. Nearly a century later, Rhizanthella remains extremely rare and difficult to locate. Botanists must search in suitable habitats and gently scrape away soil to reveal its tiny reddish flowers, each encased in creamy-pink bracts. The blossoms emit a strong vanilla fragrance and are thought to be pollinated by termites or small flies.
There are only five known species of Rhizanthella, all among the rarest orchids on Earth. With very few individuals left in the wild, they are highly threatened by habitat destruction and drought linked to climate change.
At the University of Western Australia, botanist Kingsley Dixon is leading efforts to save these elusive orchids. His conservation work involves cultivating the orchids and their associated fungi in laboratory conditions before transferring them to potted Melaleuca bushes — a delicate process aimed at giving this underground marvel a chance to survive.
