Project Update: Endangered Orchids and Flora Project

As part of FAME’s Endangered Orchids and Flora Project, delivered in partnership with the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre (SASCC), the 2025 field season has provided a powerful mix of breakthroughs and warnings for plant conservation across South Australia.

Among the highlights was the discovery of a previously unrecorded population of Sooty Spider-orchid (Caladenia fuliginosa) on the Yorke Peninsula, an especially significant find following the apparent loss of several historic populations. Fieldwork in the Blyth area also revealed a substantial new population of Spiny Daisy (Acanthocladium dockeri), undetected during earlier recovery efforts, with cutting material now successfully propagating at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens (ABG). Adding to this momentum, a population of Large-club Spider-orchid (Caladenia macroclavia), first recorded near Nantawarra in the 1960s, was relocated by the SASCC in 2025, with over 1,000 flowering plants counted and a valuable seed collection secured.

Image: The new 'rediscovered' population of Caladenia macroclavia, each pin flag is a plant. Photo credit: SASCC

Long-term conservation efforts continue to yield important insights. Ongoing monitoring of Bayonet Spider-orchid (Caladenia gladiolata) in Mount Remarkable National Park has provided valuable information on post-fire ecology following extensive wildfires. While Tall Yellow-top (Lordhowea pilosicristus) remains elusive in the wild, seeds retrieved from long-term storage have been successfully propagated and planted in the ABG Seed Orchard, ensuring a future seed source for recovery work.

However, not all news has been positive. A survey of what was once the largest known population of Lowly Greenhood (Pterostylis despectans) near Mount Bryan revealed a deeply concerning decline, from many hundreds of plants to fewer than ten individuals, with no flowering plants observed. While seasonal conditions may have contributed, the trend points to a clear and steep decline.

These results highlight both the impact of sustained recovery efforts and the urgent need for continued action to prevent further losses.
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