Some of our staff and volunteers were lucky to be invited by a private property owner to observe the epiphytic orchid, Sarcochilus australis commonly known as Butterfly orchid.

The group treked through bushland into the gully and also collected some seed for the nursery along the way.

The orchid was not flowering, but it was amazing to see them growing on the Coprosma plants and to see the property owner installing fencing to protect them from feral deer.

Epiphytic plants are plants that grow on other plants o access moisture and nutrients from air, rain and are often referred to as air plants.

Photo Credits: Linda Sijpkes & Kym Bennett