The world's most elusive #orchid lives underground in #Australia. Scientists are trying to rescue it from going completely extinct https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250925-the-race-to-save-the-worlds-rarest-orchid

"It flowers, grows, germinates, and sets seed totally underground, and is pollinated by #termites. The orchid is able to survive underground thanks to an intricate 3-way alliance: it connects to an above-ground #Melaleuca bush through #fungi. The connecting #fungus transfers nutrients from the bush to the orchid."

Vintage Botanical Print – 77 in a series- Three Forms of Melaleuca from Comprehensive catalogue of Queensland plants, both indigenous and naturalised (1909)

https://welchwrite.com/agn/2022/02/20/vintage-botanical-prints-76-in-a-series-cruciaceae-the-cruciform-tribe-from-the-natural-order-of-plants-1868/

#Melaleuca #plants #flowers #leaves #botany #botanical #print #art #artwork #garden #gardening #science #painting #illustration  

@altbot

Woody the Eucalypt and one of our Melaleucas got some new lights last night.

#eucalyptus #melaleuca

#CriticallyEndangered #Parrot Bounces Back in Huge #Conservation Victory https://www.sciencealert.com/critically-endangered-parrot-bounces-back-in-huge-conservation-victory

"Over 80 critically #endangered #parrots have returned to their breeding ground in #Tasmania – the highest number in 15 years... An army of #volunteers help monitor the #birds at #Melaleuca, watching out for predators and health issues. All this close attention provides #scientists with rare detailed data for #EndangeredSpecies management."