We are incredibly fortunate to share our coastal home with a very special – and very rare – neighbour: the endangered terrestrial orchid, Satyrium hallackii subsp. hallackii. This delicate beauty is found in only a handful of coastal and lowland sites across the region, preferring the moist, marshy areas that make our landscape so unique.
Right now, this remarkable plant is in its growing cycle which means only the leaves are present. By November, these will develop into the stunning flowers that bloom through to January.
This is a heartfelt appeal to every resident: we need your eyes on the ground. Because these orchids often grow on road verges and in open areas, they are extremely vulnerable to being accidentally mowed down – whether by municipal teams or private garden services – before they have a chance to flower and set seed.
Here’s how you can make a real difference:
- Keep a lookout. Take a moment to scan your garden, pavement edges, and local verges for clusters of broad, green leaves pushing up from the soil.
- Protect the plants. If you spot them, please mark the area clearly and ask any mowing or gardening crews to avoid them. Remember, these leaves must be left completely undisturbed – no parking on them, no trampling, and no allowing pets to damage their sensitive foliage.
- Wait for the seeds. Please hold off on any mowing or clearing in those spots until the plants have completely turned brown and gone to seed. This ensures next year’s generation is secured.
And most importantly – log your sighting! The best way to help scientists track and safeguard this species is by recording your find on iNaturalist, a free citizen science platform. By simply snapping a photo and uploading it, you provide invaluable data that helps us understand where these orchids are thriving and how we can better protect them.
Let’s work together to ensure this rare orchid continues to grace Betty’s Bay for generations to come. Thank you for being the eyes and guardians of our unique fynbos heritage.
For more information on this fascinating orchid, please refer to Jenny Parsons’s comprehensive BBC article here: https://bettysbayconservancy.co.za/the-endangered-satyrium-hallackii-bolus-subsp-hallackii/
Note: Satyrium hallackii subsp hallackii are often confused with their far more prevalent cousins, Satyrium carneum, a larger orchid with equally beautiful pink flowers and tubers that prefer drier, sandy, or limestone-based elevated coastal fynbos rather than the wet, marshy, and brackish wetland soils of our endangered orchid.
Kogelberg CREW