Gastrodia surcula

Snowgum potato orchid at Cotter River, ACT

Gastrodia surcula at Cotter River, ACT - 26 Dec 2014
Request use of media

Identification history

Gastrodia surcula 2 Sep 2015 TonyWood
Gastrodia sesamoides 2 Sep 2015 MattM

Identify this sighting


Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

User's notes

Seen at the base of a snow gum on the edge of the ski run just down from the Ginini Flats car park. I have added a band-aid to cover a wound which I believe unwise to show.

3 comments

TonyWood wrote:
   2 Sep 2015
I think it is more likely to be G. surcula, based on where found. G. sesamoides not found above 1000m. Can't easily distinguish the two without digging it up!
MattM wrote:
   2 Sep 2015
Interesting. Out of the three gastrodias in your book, I decided this was the least likely. I suppose it can be hard when the plant hasn't flowered yet. Also, it is entirely likely that it has been dug up by now. During a school trip earlier that year, we noted just how much the feral pigs had churned up the ground.
TonyWood wrote:
   3 Sep 2015
Prior to flowering, the flower stem of S. sesamoides is nodding giving the appearance of a shepherd's crook. The tubers of Gastrodia are quite succulent and attractive to feral pigs which cause a lot of damage to montane swamps.

Please Login or Register to comment.

Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 Abundance
  • 26 Dec 2014 12:00 AM Recorded on
  • MattM Recorded by

Species information

2,152,973 sightings of 19,940 species in 6,475 locations from 11,410 contributors
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.