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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 57(3)

Planting conditions improve translocation success of the endangered terrestrial orchid Diuris fragrantissima (Orchidaceae)

Zoë F. Smith A D , Elizabeth A. James B , Mark J. McDonnell C and Cassandra B. McLean C E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, c/o School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.

B Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, Vic. 3141, Australia.

C School of Resource Management, Faculty of Land and Food Resources, Burnley College, The University of Melbourne, 500 Yarra Boulevard, Richmond, Vic. 3121, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: zsmith@unimelb.edu.au

E Deceased March 2009.

Australian Journal of Botany 57(3) 200-209 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT09072
Submitted: 14 April 2008  Accepted: 9 June 2009   Published: 29 June 2009

Abstract

By conducting reintroductions of the endangered terrestrial orchid Diuris fragrantissima D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. we compared planting at the following three stages of the natural perennial growth cycle: as actively growing symbiotic plants in spring and autumn and as dormant tubers in summer. Plants reintroduced in spring and autumn were incorporated into randomised treatments involving soil aeration and addition of a mycorrhizal fungus. The addition of a mycorrhizal fungus and soil aeration together significantly increased survival and flowering of plants reintroduced in spring, whereas they had no significant effect on plants reintroduced in autumn. Addition of a fungus without soil aeration did not improve plant survival or flowering. Reintroducing actively growing plants was more successful than reintroducing dormant tubers, with 32.5% and 29.1% plants (reintroduced in spring and autumn, respectively) and 11.0% of tubers persisting after 4 years. Although survival of reintroduced plants declined at a rate of 16.9% per year for 4 years following reintroduction, survival of remnant plants remained relatively constant, ranging from 80.0 to 93.0%. Tuber size was positively correlated with survival and flowering of reintroduced plants for 2 years following reintroduction. A general trend was observed towards the increased likelihood of re-emergence and flowering of plants that flowered in previous seasons.


Acknowledgements

This paper is dedicated to the fond memory of Cassandra B. McLean; a dedicated mycorrhizal ecologist and inspiring and encouraging mentor. We thank the following people for their assistance with the reintroduction: Andrew Pritchard, Karen Lester and Gemma Phelan, Department of Sustainability and Environment; Fiona Smith and Katrina Lovett, Parks Victoria; Colin Knight, Melbourne Zoo; Dick Thomson, Russell Mawson, Peter Kiernan and Alex Smart, Australian Native Orchid Society; and all the volunteers who assisted with monitoring.


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