Teacher finds 50 rare orchids in New South Wales rainforest
The discovery of the Bonville leafless orchid near Boambee significantly increases the known population of the critically endangered species.
A teacher and botany enthusiast, Nick Lambert, discovered approximately 50 Bonville leafless orchids in a rainforest near Boambee, according to a Times of India report. The find occurred in October 2026 near Coffs Harbour, expanding the known population of the species which was previously thought to exist in only one location.
The orchid, scientifically named Danhatchia copelandii, is a leafless plant that relies on an underground fungus for nutrition. It is approximately 10 cm tall with reddish hairy stems and only emerges from the ground for a week or two each year to bloom.
Before this discovery, botanist Dr Lachlan Copeland had recorded only six to seven plants in recent years at the original habitat. The new find brings the total number of identified plants to over 60.
Brett Summerell, chief scientist at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, told ABC News that the discovery is important because small populations of endangered species often face low genetic diversity. He added that a second population serves as a safeguard against disasters in the original habitat.
The Boambee population will likely be located within the proposed Great Koala National Park. A specimen will be deposited at the National Herbarium of NSW at Mount Annan for formal identification and inclusion in the scientific collection.