Swamp Orchid (Phaius tankervilleae var. australis)

Once upon a time, huge tracts of the South East Queensland coastline were host to a thick, impenetrable forest of tea-tree swamps. This low-lying coastal land was a paradise for biodiversity with rich soils, plenty of water and luscious vegetation. It was also home to Australia’s tallest orchid. Standing at over 2 metres tall, this monumental beauty was a holy grail for plant collectors and for centuries it was poached from the wild. Now surviving in only a few secret locations, continued land drainage and development push the species even further towards the brink. This is the story of the Swamp Orchid. 

The ‘Back from the Brink’ series is the first of its kind to exhibit a series of short stories about South East Queensland’s most threatened plants and animals, what is happening to them, and how we can save them from extinction. Throughout 2018 we will showcase a plethora of amazing creatures from the Powerful Owl to cuddly koalas, as well as the incredible people dedicating their lives to saving them.

If you would like to know more about this project or would like to be involved in some way contact us today.

If you would like you to learn more visit our resource page.