Rhizanthella slateri (Rupp) M.A. Clem. & P.J. Cribb 1984 Photo courtesy of David Banks Copyright ©,

Plant in Flower Photo courtesy of David Banks Copyright ©,

THROUGH

Common Name Slater's Rhizanthella [Australian Orchid Enthusiast 20th cent.]

Flower Size 1.2" [3 cm]

"Text by David Banks - The Eastern Underground Orchid (Rhizanthella slateri) was rediscovered at the type site at Alum Mt, Bulahdelah, New South Wales in May 2002. I was shown the plants and here is one of the photos I took of this rediscovery. The plant depicted is still in tight bud, but I will get flower shots in September. This plant is a rare saphrophytic orchid that lives beneath the soil and only as flowering is aproaching does it just broach the surface beneath the leaf litter, giving rise to a cluster of small tubular flowers. Since this find, five more colonies have been discovered at the Bulahdelah site."

Synonyms *Cryptanthemis slateri Rupp 1932

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of Australia Riley & Banks 2002;

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