"orchid discovered in Kewdale...
brown and yellow flower...
[see photo :
http://www.thewest.com.au/getfile.aspx?Type=image&ID=391828&ObjectType=3&ObjectID=200760
]
it has not been named...
one of the star attractions in a Kings Park and Botanic Gardens initiative
to preserve and collect the seeds of almost 1000 native plant species by
2010.
Kings Park science director Kingsley Dixon said the orchid was believed to
be closely related to the popular donkey orchid, but its different
colouration, size and leaves distinguished it as a new species.
...
while new orchids continued to be discovered almost annually in WA, other
orchids such as the colourful Queen of Sheba orchid were approaching
extinction.
"Orchids are the barometer of how well the ecology is travelling, because
when orchids vanish from bushland areas, then you know the area is starting
to show signs of stress," ... Dixon said.
...
"Salinity, clearing weeds and disease have resulted in loss of habitat and
species to a degree that is a national crisis,"...
Dixon said.
"The Queen of Sheba was once common and widespread, but in the past 15
years numbers have declined and we suspect that climate change may be
adversely affecting the orchid more than any other plant."
He added that scientists had already discovered at least 400 different
orchid species in the South-West."
URL : http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=98917
*****************
Regards,
VB
_______________________________________________
the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD)
orchids@orchidguide.com
http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
