https://gardenology.mywikis.net/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=RhizanthellaRhizanthella - Revision history2026-04-13T03:52:13ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.35.3https://gardenology.mywikis.net/w/index.php?title=Rhizanthella&diff=6052&oldid=prevEnvoy at 09:46, 21 July 20072007-07-21T09:46:35Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Taxobox<br />
| image = Rhizanthella gardneri 201206.jpg<br />
| image_width = 200px<br />
| image_caption = ''Rhizanthella gardneri''<br />
| color = lightgreen<br />
| name = Underground Orchid<br />
| status = {{StatusCritical}}<br />
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae<br />
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]<br />
| classis = [[Monocotyledon|Liliopsida]]<br />
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]<br />
| familia = [[Orchidaceae]]<br />
| subfamilia = [[Orchidoideae]]<br />
| tribus = [[Diuridiae]]<br />
| subtribus = [[Rhizanthellinae]]<br />
| genus = '''''Rhizanthella'''''<br />
| genus_authority = [[Richard Sanders Rogers|R.S.Rogers]]<br />
| subdivision_ranks = Species<br />
| subdivision = <br />
''[[Rhizanthella gardneri]]'' <br /><br />
''[[Rhizanthella omissa]]'' <br /><br />
''[[Rhizanthella slateri]]''<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Rhizantella''' R.S.Rogers 1928 is a small epiparasitic, subterranean genus, belonging to the orchid family ([[Orchidaceae]]), endemic to [[Australia]]. It is abbreviated in trade journals as Rhi.<br />
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It consists of only three species<br />
* ''[[Rhizanthella gardneri]]'' R.S. Rogers 1928 (type species) : Gardner's Underground Orchid<br />
* ''[[Rhizanthella omissa]]'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. 2006 : Lamington Underground Orchid<br />
* ''[[Rhizanthella slateri]]'' (Rupp) M.A. Clem. & P.J. Cribb 1984 : Eastern Underground Orchid<br />
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These achlorophyllous orchids are rare and their status is considered vulnerable to critical, mostly through loss of [[Habitat (ecology)|habitat]]. They live underground in [[symbiosis]] with mycorrhizal fungi. These subterranean [[rhizome]]s or [[tuber]]s are short and thickened, without roots. They serve as storage for the orchid. The leaves are absent.<br />
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The solitary inflorescences, when as flowering is approaching, break through the surface, beneath the leaf litter. The terminal inflorescence is [[racemose]]. It gives rise to a cluster of small, tubular, [[hermaphroditic ]] [[flower]]s. The fragrant flowerheads are about 5 cm wide and contain numerous, inward-facing, small flowers.<br />
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Pollination is by small [[fly|flies]] or [[insect]]s, even underground by [[termite]]s or [[gnat]]s. The fruit is a fleshy, indehiscent [[drupe]] with about 250 minute seeds.<br />
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Their discovery in 1928 caused such an excitement among orchid lovers, that a wax model had to be toured around [[UK|Britain]].<br />
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== Reference works ==<br />
* George, A. S. (1981). ''Rhizanthella-The Underground Orchid of Western Australia''. Proceedings of the Orchid Symposium, 13th International Botanical Congress 77-78.<br />
* Dixon, K. W., et al. (1990). ''The Western Australian fully subterranean orchid Rhizanthella gardneri''. Orchid Biology, Reviews and Perspectives. V. J. Arditti. Portland, Oregon, Timber Press. 5: 37-62.<br />
* Dixon, K. (2003) ''Underground Orchids on the Edge''. Plant Talk, 31: 34-35.<br />
* Jones, D.L. & Clements, M.A. (2006). ''Rhizanthella omissa, a new species of underground orchid from south eastern Australia''. The Orchadian, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 131-133.<br />
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==Further reading==<br />
*Hoffman, N., Brown, A. (1998). ''Orchids of South-west Australia''. University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands.Rev. 2nd ed. with suppl. ISBN 1876268182 <br />
*Jones, David L. (2006).'' A complete guide to native orchids of Australia: including the island territories''. Frenchs Forest. ISBN 1-8770-6912-4.<br />
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[[Category:Flora of Western Australia]]<br />
[[Category:Orchid species]]<br />
[[Category:Orchids of Australia]]<br />
[[category:orchid genera]]</div>Envoy