Is it on the list? Taxonomy, conservation, and a mountaintop orchid

A tension exists between taxonomy and conservation in their conceptualisation of species and genera: in taxonomy, a species, a genus, or any other taxonomic grouping is a hypothesis; while in threatened species listing, a species or genus is a fixed entity. This case study of the Mount Canobolas Leek Orchid, and its circuitous journey from taxonomic description to threatened species listing, illuminates the inner workings of the taxonomic and conservation systems designed to support Australia’s flora, and what happens when these systems are misaligned. Through collaboration and communication between the people who work within these systems, we show how practical solutions can be found.