FOR a short time, visitors can experience the beauty of native Dendrobium orchids as the Australian National Botanic Gardens opens its research glasshouse to the public.

Usually open only to researchers, the glasshouse is bursting with the fragrance and colour of hundreds of cool temperate orchids of the species Dendrobium speciosum.

“We are absolutely amazed at how prolifically the Dendrobium speciosum is flowering,” orchid research scientist Dr Mark Clements said.

“The orchids on display in our research glasshouse are from our research collection used for genetic analysis.

“With the orchids flowering by the masses and looking so magnificent, we just had to share them with the public.”

Also known as the rock lily, Dendrobium speciosum is found in varying habitats along 3000 kilometres of Australia’s eastern coastline. It usually grows on branches of rainforest trees or on sandstone in open forest.

To help people learn more about orchids, horticulturists from the gardens are also manning a demonstration table between 10.30am-11.30 am and 1.30pm- 2.30 pm each weekday.

The research glasshouse will be open to the public only until early October, while the Dendrobium orchids are in full flower.

The Australian National Botanic Gardens Orchid Research is based at the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Its mission is to collect, classify and conserve native orchids.