Geodorum neocaledonicum - February 2017 Plant of the Evening
Geodorum neocaledonicum (current name Geodorum densiflorum)
Geodorum densiflorum is a tropical terrestrial orchid which flowers in December-January period and becomes dormant during winter. The plant benched had a single inflorescence with 8 tubular light pink flowers, one of which was open. The pseudobulbs of this orchid is a much compressed structure, buried or half buried at ground level, each bearing 3-5 pleated leaves with 3 prominent ribs. When in bloom, the peduncle re-curves through 180 degrees just below the rachis, hence its common name of the Pink Nodding Orchid.
Geodorum densiflorum has a very wide geographical distribution in tropical Asia and the Australasian region. In Australia, it is found between north coast of NSW and northern Queensland as well as the Northern Territory. It grows in dry sclerophyll forest, often on coastal sand, at lower altitudes, in open eucalypt forest and heathland, favouring sandy soils, often on grassy hillsides in loose colonies.
It has amazing colonising ability and was recently discovered in some remote islands in Japan, believed to have arrived via long distance dispersal over a distance of 1200 km about 10 years ago.
Geodorum densiflorum - whole inflorescence
It is one of the few native orchids that have both ethnobotanical and medicinal uses. Fresh pseudobulbs were used as food by the aborigines in Australia. Gum obtained from the pseudobulbs is employed for joining parts of musical instruments. Fresh rhizomes crushed and rubbed on cattle were used to kill flies. It was used as medicines by some Indian tribal people.
Geodorum densiflorum single flower
In NSW, there are thought to be fewer than 10 populations of Geodorum densiflorum, threatened by urban development, and weeds such as bitou bush. It is currently listed as an endangered species, likely to become extinct in nature unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.
Because of its tropical origin, Geodorum densiflorum is not commonly grown in Sydney. According to Greg, it has to be grown under similar conditions as Cattleya, i.e. plenty of sunlight, watering and in an open medium.
