Hyacinth-orchid at Golden Whistler Reserve

The Hyacinth-orchid is one of the few terrestrial orchids in Victoria that can be found in flower during summer. It grows in a variety of open woodland habitats, nearly always close to the base of a eucalypt.

The Rosy Hyacinth-orchid can grow to 1 m tall and have up to 50 pale pink flowers with dark pink spots. The flowers emerge in sequence up the stem.

It is a leafless plant that gets all its nutrition from fungi in the soil. Because of its relationship with mycorrhizal fungi, the Rosy Hyacinth-orchid cannot be cultivated. The orchid is pollinated by native bees and wasps.

There are about a dozen species that grow in Victoria, and in this district Dipodium roseum is by far the most common. At present there are about a dozen plants in the reserve.