Taxonomy, systematics and conservation of the Orchidaceae
Rhizanthella speciosa, a newly discovered species of orchid, found in Barrington Tops (NSW). Photo: M. Clements.
Caladenia actensis, endemic to the Australian Capital Territory, is Critically Endangered. Photo M. Clements.
The Orchidaceae are one of the most species-rich plant families on earth currently estimated at over 28,000 species. Orchids are well known as rainforest canopy dwellers (epiphytes), and as the large and colourful specimens in garden shows. But, did you know that the majority of Australia’s orchids are ground-dwelling (terrestrial) and can be found in bushland, heathland and even in the desert? Many of these species have flowers only a few centimetres across, which can be seen for only a few weeks every year.
Orchids represent around 7% of Australia’s native plant species, but they constitute around 17% of Australia’s nationally threatened plants.
In close collaboration with the team Tropical Biodiversity and Evolution, our team studies the taxonomy, systematics and conservation of orchids in Australasia and worldwide. We work to clarify orchid taxonomic status and prepare taxonomic revisions where required. We have a particular focus on threatened orchids, with projects on Rhizanthella species and Caladenia actensis. We are working on the IUCN Red Listing of Australian endemic orchids, and on improving our understanding of rare and threatened orchids on Australia’s island territories, such as Norfolk Island. We have strong research collaborations worldwide, but particularly in our region, including with New Zealand and New Caledonia (where many of the same orchid genera also occur).
In addition to working on foundational molecular systematics within the Orchidaceae, our team is active in the application of this research, collaborating in the development of the open-access Orchidaceae in the Flora of Australia online and in Orchid Taxonomy Advisory Group Australasia. Through both of these projects we are working towards a consistent and evidenced-based orchid taxonomy for Australia.
Recent publications
Jones, D. L., Clements, M. A., and Zimmer, H. C. (2023) Notes on Australasian Orchids 7: Characterisation of Hymenochilus cycnocephalus and H. muticus (Orchidaceae: Pterostylidinae), and the description of eight new species. Lankesteriana 23: 511-542.
Zimmer, H., Mastroianni, E., Nargar, K., and Ferris, J. (2023) Updates on Red Listing of rare and threatened Australian orchids. The Orchadian 21(1): 5-8.
Zimmer, H., Christian, J. Christian, N., Clements, M., Nance, A., Nargar, K., Macgregor, N. A., Mills, K., and Wilson, M. (2023) Island treasures: rapid assessment of orchids on Norfolk Island. Cunnighamia 23: 33–47.
Zimmer, H., Clements, M., Cooper, E. David Jones, Nargar, K., Makinson, B. and Stevenson, K. (2023) Collateral damage: epiphytic orchids at risk from myrtle rust. Australian Journal of Botany 71:523-536. [PDF]
Zimmer, H.C., Nargar, K. & Whalen, A, (2022). Introducing the Orchid Taxonomy Advisory Group Australasia. The Orchadian, 20 (7), 302-305. [PDF]
Clements, M. A., Clarkson, J. R., Zimmer, H. C., & Jones, D. L. (2021). Taeniophyllum cylindrocentrum Schltr. (Vandeae: Orchidaceae)–a new record for Australia. Austrobaileya, 118-123. [PDF]
Wagner, N. D., Clements, M. A., Simpson, L., & Nargar, K. (2021). Conservation in the face of hybridisation: genome-wide study to evaluate taxonomic delimitation and conservation status of a threatened orchid species. Conservation Genetics, 22(1), 151-168.
Zimmer, H. (2021) Genomic approaches for species delimitation in threatened species. Australasian Plant Conservation 30 (2), 7-12. [PDF]
Clements, M. A., & Jones, D. L. (2020). Notes on Australasian Orchids 6: A new species of Rhizanthella (Diurideae, subtribe Prasophyllinae) from Eastern Australia. Lankesteriana, 221-227 [PDF]
Contact
Heidi Zimmer, heidi.zimmer@csiro.au
Katharina Nargar (Tropical Botany Team), katharina.nargar@csiro.au