Summary

The fungal endophytes of Australian myco-heterotrophic orchids are largely unknown. In this investigation we identified the fungal endophytes of three species of Australian myco-heterotrophic orchid: the terrestrial species Dipodium variegatum and Dipodium hamiltonianum and the vine-like Erythrorchis cassythoides. Similar to studies of myco-heterotrophic orchids in Nth America and Europe the fungal endophytes of Dipodium spp. are members of the Russulaceae. E. cassythoides contained both ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi suggesting that it can derive its carbon via fungi from both dead and living plant material