Orchids

The Orchidaceae is the most diverse of all plant families, and with incredible variety in floral form and function, orchids have captured the imagination of countless generations. Orchids have intricate and often obligate partnerships with other organisms above and below ground, making them the subject of considerable scientific enquiry for almost 200 years. Whilst many species are common and widespread, orchids, more than any other plant family, are over-represented on threatened species lists globally. Their complex environmental interactions together with recent anthropogenic changes have seen the extinction risk for many species increase dramatically, as well as efforts for their conservation. In this chapter, we explore the richness and diversity of orchid biology and ecology, linking the science to conservation, as some orchids within the proposed Yule Brook Regional Park are among the most endangered of all Australian plant species.