Rhizanthella johnstonii

Southern Underground Orchid

Due to habitat loss and small population sizes, WA’s Underground orchids (Rhizanthella gardneri and R. johnstonii) have a very high risk of extinction with both ranked as Critically Endangered. Unless authorised by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, searches for these orchids should not be undertaken as it requires the removal of the leaf litter layer to expose the flowers, damaging the habitat of the orchids and potentially also directly damaging the orchids themselves (Section 5 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016).