Gastrodia grow in the soil under or among vegetation and produce a tuber of which some species were regularly gathered and considered a delicacy when cooked.
A feature of this genus of orchid is that they have no leaves and lack chlorophyll to enable it to produce energy from sunlight. Instead, it obtains nutrients from decaying plant material fed from the fungal threads connected to tree roots as a saprophyte. Gastrodia are among only a few saprophytic plants native to New Zealand.
Gastrodia molloyi grows naturally in forest and scrub around the country, under native beech, tawa, kanuka and manuka. It can also appear in unexpected places in planted garden areas and pathways that have been covered with woodchip, along bush walks, flood-prone waterways and even in among grasses and exotic weeds.
This orchid’s flowers are small, scented and are a golden-green colour or sometimes brown. In the right conditions its flowering stem can grow up to 80cm long, even so, unless you are looking purposefully it can be difficult to locate.
Gastrodia flower from December to March. There are a few sites where it can be found around Dunedin including examples growing throughout the upper area of the Dunedin Botanic Garden.
Garden Life is produced by the Dunedin Botanic Garden
For more information contact Ruben Scarlet-McRae
