Greenhood
Orchid Pterostylis gibbosa
The Greenhood Orchid
species Pterostylis gibbosa was first collected in Western Sydney
in 1803. Today the species is listed as endangered and found in only three
locations in NSW, the Shoalhaven, the Hunter Valley and the Illawarra.
This terrestrial
orchid occurs in open forest on flat or gently sloping land with poorly
drained soils. It is only visible above the ground between late summer
and spring with a green, hood-shaped flower developing on mature plants
over winter.
Urban development
has greatly reduced the area of available habitat for the Greenhood Orchid
species Pterostylis gibbosa. Frequent fires, particularly between
March and November, and weed invasion are further potential threats to
the species' survival.
Funded by the Foundation
for National Parks & Wildlife, NPWS Threatened Species Officer Martin
Bremner implemented crucial recovery actions including habitat surveys
in all three locations, monitoring of known populations and the production
and distribution of an awareness-raising brochure.
The survey could
not identify new populations, and the monitoring of the known sites revealed
that the drought had stopped the orchids from flowering or developing
seed capsules. However, research findings have already led to tangible
conservation outcomes. Some populations are now protected through ongoing
weed control or rabbit-proof fencing. For one site a Voluntary Conservation
Agreement was signed in 2002.
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