By Victoria Stone-Meadows
Budding botanists and orchid enthusiasts are in for treat with an upcoming talk on orchid pollination at the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens.
The talk, called ‘Fascination of Orchid Pollination’ will explore the most recent research into Victorian Orchids.
Presented by Mitch Smith from the Friends of the Cranbourne Gardens Group, the talk, subtitled ‘Sex, Lies and Seduction’ offers an exciting window into the life of terrestrial orchids.
While Mr Smith has no formal training as a botanist, he has worked as a citizen scientist for 10 years to better understand these unique flowers.
He has always loved nature and the environment, and said the transition to working with orchids was very natural.
“I grew up with nature all around me in Papua New Guinea,” he said.
“I lived on the coast, and loved looking after the environment and animals all my life.”
About 20 years ago, Mr Smith developed a love of photographing orchids that developed into learning more and more about how they worked.
“It was about six or seven years ago – a mate of mine and I decided we wanted to look at the pollinators for these flowers,” he said.
For the last six years, Mr Smith has been working hard discovering all the bizarre ways orchids use different techniques to spread their pollen around.
“Orchids have evolved to attract pollinators, such as birds and bees, using specialised mechanisms in weird and wonderful ways,” he said.
“We have observed them mimicking insects; for example a male insect comes along and tries to have its way with the orchid because the orchid is releasing female insect scents.”
“The way they have attracted insects is completely bizarre – some don’t even look like flowers, some attract through sexual deception and they also attract pollinators like normal flowers with nectar.”
Mr Smith said he has given talks of this kind before but it looking forward to returning to Cranbourne Gardens to share his knowledge.
Mr Smith owns Woolenook Native Plant Nursery in Maffra, and also works on local re-vegetation and restoration projects.
He has accumulated knowledge and insights on many aspects of the environment.
He also acts as an adviser to current land managers on environmental matters, mostly to do with orchids and grassland management in his local area.
His talk on orchids will take place on Sunday, 13 August from 2pm to 3.30pm at the Australian Garden Auditorium in the Cranbourne Gardens on the corner of Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive.
Tickets are available for purchase from $20 for members, $25 for non-members and $10 for students.
For more information or to book your ticket, visit www.rbgfriendscranbourne.org.au or call 8774 2483.
