Eastern underground orchid
Rhizanthella slateri (Rupp) M.A.Clem. & P.J.Cribb
Rhizanthella slateri, known as the eastern underground orchid, is a mycoheterotrophic herb in the Orchidaceae family. It is native to New South Wales and Queensland and was described in 1984. The plant remains mostly underground, with flowers occasionally emerging just above the soil surface.
Description
Rhizanthella slateri is a species of orchid that is endemic to New South Wales and Queensland. It is a mycoheterotrophic herb, meaning it lacks chlorophyll and relies on fungal associations for nutrients. The plant spends most of its life underground, with its flowers appearing only briefly, typically a few millimetres above the soil surface. It belongs to the Orchidaceae family and was first published in 1984.
Other common names
Eastern underground orchid
Distribution
New South Wales · Queensland
Synonyms
Cryptanthemis slateri
