Pink hyacinth orchid
Dipodium roseum

Family: Orchidaceae

What it is like

A robust orchid. A herb which is without leaves and grows on rotting plant material. It grows to 1 m high. The flowers are along a stalk 60 cm long. They are pale pink with darker spots. The flowers are 2 cm across. The sepals and petals are free, spreading and equal. The rhizome is light brown with white flesh and 1.5 cm across.

There are 22 Dipodium species. Dipodium roseum has now been separated off from Dipodium punctatum.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows from the coast to the hills. It occurs in dry open forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Tasmania

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Tuber, root, rhizome

How it is grown

It is almost impossible to grow this species at present. It may be possible to grow it from seed in lots of sawdust near Eucalypt trees.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Dipodium punctatum (Smith) R. Br.;