Bell-flower Hyacinth Orchid

Dipodium campanulatum is a leafless, tuberous, perennial herb. For most of the year, plants are dormant and have no above-ground presence. The flowering stem reaches to a height of 400–700 mm (20–30 in) and appears between December and February. It bears between fifteen and thirty five slightly bell-shaped white flowers with large, dark red spots and blotches. The flowers are 15–30 mm (0.6–1 in) wide on a pedicel 10–18 mm (0.4–0.7 in) long. The sepals and petals are 12–14 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long, 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and all are free from each other with their tips curved slightly forwards. The labellum is 12–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide with a narrow central band of mauve hairs up to 0.5 mm (0.02 in) long.

The bell-flower hyacinth orchid occurs in South Australia near the Victorian border and near Apsley in Victoria. Associated tree species include stringybark (Eucalyptus baxteri or Eucalyptus arenacea) and Eucalyptus leucoxylon. Other associated species include wattles Acacia spp., bracken Pteridium esculentum, cranberry heath (Astroloma humifusum) and magenta storksbill (Pelargonium rodneyanum).

Pollination of this species, as for all species in the genus, is by native bees and wasps.

No leafless species of Dipodium has been sustained in cultivation due to the inability to replicate its association with mycorrhizal fungi in a horticultural context.

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