Australia is a global hotspot for orchid diversity, but also has one of the highest rates of orchid extinctions in the world. Epitomising this trend are Leek Orchids (Prasophyllum), a large genus of terrestrial orchids from southern Australia with dozens of endangered species. Complicating conservation efforts, attempts to grow Leek Orchids in cultivation usually fail - their seed almost never germinates. In my exit seminar I will explore the suspected causes of poor seed germination in Leek Orchids. The seminar will focus on the role of mycorrhizal fungi, responsible for stimulating germination of all orchids in the wild. I will explore the seasonal turnover of fungal communities, temporal changes between adult orchids and seedlings, and spatial trends across the continent and across broad habitat gradients. Only by understanding the shared evolutionary relationship between orchid and fungus, can we harness the natural potential of mycorrhizal fungi to help save our most threatened Leek Orchids from extinction.