Changing fire patterns threaten Australia's wildflowers, researchers warn

In Western Australia’s Warwick Bushland, the red beak orchid illustrates a paradox: it blooms after fire but suffers when flames are too intense or frequent, a pattern echoed across 17 orchid species studied by Mark Brundrett. The 2019-20 Black Summer fires burned over 24 million hectares, prompting mass flowering of fire-dependent species like flannel flowers and Christmas bells, yet also endangering plants that need longer intervals to mature.

Climate change is accelerating fire severity, raising concerns for species with limited seed banks or no resprouting ability. The federal response, overseen by threatened-species commissioner Fiona Fraser, includes an $800 million program to adjust fire management and support seed-banking efforts led by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s Rebecca Miller. Ongoing challenges include the short viability of many seeds and the logistical difficulty of collecting them from remote habitats.