A team has been searching for two of the state’s rarest orchids near Portland this week.
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The group, made up of Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) staff and Australasian Native Orchid Society volunteers, has been recording numbers of the Mellblom’s Spider- orchid and Limestone Spider-orchid.
DELWP biodiversity officer David Pitts said both species had a population of less than 1000 plants.
“The Mellblom's Spider-orchid only grows in Victoria’s south-west and the Limestone Spider-orchid has only ever been recorded in Victoria’s south west and south-east South Australia,” Mr Pitts said.
“These stunning orchids were widespread and abundant in south-west Victoria in the 1950s, however they are now limited to much smaller populations.
“It’s important we undertake this work to understand what caused this significant decline over a relatively short period.”
