AboutOrchids

Sad news from Scientific American and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: their update of 25 possibly extinct species includes a dozen orchids from Madagascar. Many of these species have not been seen for decades, and their native habitats have been destroyed.

In the 1930s, amateur naturalist Edith Coleman solved an orchid puzzle that had perplexed Charles Darwin. Why are some orchids pollinated by only male insects?

NPR reports that American and Cuban scientists are working to bring back some of Florida’s native orchids. Listen to the story below–

Bats eat lots of garden pests, work for free, and won’t fly in your hair! Pacific Horticulture explains why bats are garden allies.

Tennessee officials are trying to save a rare, indigenous orchid species. The White Fringeless Orchid is hanging in the balance as government officials weigh its fate. Native to the Southeastern USA, this species is endangered by habitat loss and illegal poaching of wild plants. Its scientific name is Platanthera integrilabia, and it grows in wooded […]

Great news! The Orchid Conservation Alliance (OCA) has exceeded its fundraising goal to create a new nature reserve in Ecuador. On the slopes of the Andes, the Chocó rainforest is a biological hotspot. It’s home to 5% of all orchid species on earth, including many rare and fascinating Draculas. Together with the Rainforest Trust and Fundación EcoMinga, […]

The illegal plant trade endangers many rare plant species, and orchids are prime targets. International agreements prohibit this trade, so what happens when illegally trafficked plants are found and confiscated? The BBC reports that species seized in the USA become property of the government, which places them in a rescue program. Many of the plants […]

London’s Natural History Museum needs your help. The museum has started an Orchid Observers citizen science project, and it’s looking for volunteers to help study how climate change is affecting native British orchids. Scientists have already found that some species have been blooming earlier, consistent with warmer springtime temperatures. At Orchid Observers, you can choose […]

A distressing study of Asian orchid species reports that many are threatened with extinction. Habitat destruction, deforestation, and illegal sales of wild plants are destroying these beauties. The Center for International Forestry Research in Indonesia inspected Thai flower markets, and found hundreds of endangered species for sale. Even though it’s illegal to sell these plants […]

What if you could improve the health of your garden by adding more flowers? Washington State University researchers have discovered that Sweet Alyssum attracts lots of beneficial insects. These insects provide natural pest control by hunting bugs which munch on garden greenery. After experimenting with a few types of plants, researchers found that Sweet Alyssum […]