Orchids are the largest flowering plant family in the world with nearly 30,000 identified species occurring nearly everywhere in the world and countless hybrids. Most of the orchids grown in our homes are hybrids of species from tropical regions in South and Central America and Asia, where they grow on trees and rocks. In more temperate regions, like ours, most orchid species are terrestrial–growing in the ground. At orchid club meetings, we have often discussed the lady slippers that grow in nearby Minnesota and which types might be cultivated as outdoor garden plants in our area.
Most of us are aware that Australia has a wealth of wildlife and is home to many unique and bizarre species of animals and plants. But did you know that orchids are also very prolific in Australia?
In Australia there are between 1,200 and 1,400 orchid species with 80 per cent of these not found anywhere else in the world.A number of these also have some extremely specialised adaptations not seen elsewhere in the orchid family. For example two species of native orchids spend their entire life-cycle underground,and many ground orchids from southern Australia have become so specialised that they deceive and lure the males of a single species of insect to their flowers to ensure pollination
About an hour’s drive west of Melbourne, Australia in the state of Victoria is a natural wonderland filled with unique geology and a great variety of wildlife, known as the Brisbane Ranges National Park. In addition to scenic hiking, rock climbing and a large koala population, the Brisbane Ranges is particularly noted for its wildflowers, featuring almost 700 plant species. Over 100 different orchids have been recorded in the park.
Set in a low range of mountains dissected by rocky gullies, the unusual geology of Brisbane Ranges National Park has preserved plants that have long since vanished from the region, together with a correspondingly diverse bird population as well as Koalas, Wallabies and Kangaroos.
Cathy Powers is fortunate to live in the Brisbane Ranges, just outside the national park. Cathy was born in South Dakota and moved to Australia in 1976. She developed an interest in terrestrial orchids about 10 years ago and began photographing them in earnest in 2003. She has traveled far and wide to capture the beauty of native orchid species and the amazing results can be seen on her website Banjorah.com.
Cathy is an experienced speaker and a dedicated conservationist. She writes, “I am a member of the Australasian Native Orchid Society (both Victoria and Geelong). I am also a member of the Friends of the Brisbane Ranges and a committee member of the Brisbane Ranges Wildflower Show (held again in October 2011). I am President of the Australian Plants Society Victoria and the treasurer of our local district group (APS Melton & Bacchus Marsh). I conduct PowerPoint presentations to various community groups on subjects such as the Brisbane Ranges, Fungi, Terrestrial Orchids, Plants & Pollinators, Digital Photography and various themes within these areas. My topic for your meeting is ‘Biodiversity & the Brisbane Ranges’.
It will be such a treat to have Cathy as a guest speaker at this Saturday’s Orchid Club meeting. Don’t miss the chance to hear more about this fascinating region and its amazing orchids. For more meeting details, click here.
Sources:
Friends of Brisbane Ranges
Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research
Banjorah.com
