AboutOrchids

The Broad-Leaved Helleborine is indeed a wild, weedy, and intoxicating orchid. It’s an invasive species in North America, with nectar that drugs its insect pollinators. On the coast, just south of San Francisco, the plants near us grow in a tough botanical neighborhood. Their small patch of woods on a steep hillside is full of invasive species, such as ivy, Pampas Grass, and ice plant. Probably the most common native is Poison Oak. Local deer and other herbivores eat much of the greenery. After two years of bad drought, the forest is dry. Fortunately, since these pictures were taken, we’ve had rain, but these orchids grew with very little rainfall. Instead, they must have relied on fog dripping from the tall conifers above them.

When these photos were shot in late summer and early fall, there were over a dozen plants in different stages of growth. Some had maturing seedpods, others were in full bloom, while a few more were just starting to send up young flower buds. The mature plants were about waist high, with blooms less than 3/4 inch (1.9 cm) wide. Without fail, every flower formed a seedpod. While this is partly due to that intoxicating nectar, it’s also a trait of self-pollinating plants. Undoubtedly, reliable masses of tiny, windblown seeds help this orchid to conquer new areas.

This final photo in this post wasn’t taken in Pacifica, but in San Mateo County Memorial Park, about 40 miles (64 km) south of here, and further inland. In early October, growing under enormous Coastal Redwoods, the Broad-Leaved Helleborines had all finished flowering, and sported maturing seedpods. While it was exciting to see orchids growing wild, it was also sad to see these invasives, but no native species. Still, under the shadows of giant trees, they seemed very much at home.

This month’s events with health precautions include the virtual Orchid Digest International Speakers Day. It features a great group of experts discussing orchids in India, Peru, Borneo, and the Philippines.

This Caucaea was a great find at a San Francisco Orchid Society sale last year. It’s a cool-growing miniature with a strong, sweet fragrance. Caucaeas are in the Oncidium family, and they’re named after the Cauca region of the northern Andes. Caucaea is pronounced “kaw-KAY-uh.”

This species is Caucaea phalaenopsis, named for its resemblance to moths. It shouldn’t be confused with Phals, or Moth Orchids, which belong to a different genus. Caucaea phalaenopsis is native to cloud forests in Ecuador, at elevations above 2700 feet (823 m.) My plant seems to have settled into our back garden quite happily, enjoying the morning sun, cool temps, and regular fog. The blooms on its first flower spike survived several weeks, and swelling flower buds on a second spike promise more to come. It even emerged unscathed from last weekend’s powerful rainstorm, when we had over 6 inches (15 cm) of rain in a single day, and wind gusts exceeding 65 miles per hour (105 km/h.)

The flowers aren’t very large, but they pump out a lot of fragrance. Their scent is pleasant and floral, like a rose. These plants should be watered regularly, and never allowed to dry out completely. They don’t enjoy warm weather, but seem to tolerate short periods of heat, as long as there is high humidity. The last row of photos below shows three other charming Caucaea species. For growers with cool temps and good humidity, Caucaeas are sweet little orchids.

All over the world, rare plants are being stolen from the wild, and from botanical gardens. London’s legendary Kew Gardens employs security officers and cameras 24 hours a day. Its orchids, however, need extra protection. Many are displayed in locked glass cabinets to prevent theft. The rarest aren’t put out for visitors at all. Spurred on by social media, with orchid influencers and unboxing videos, illegal global markets are sadly thriving. The true size of the illegal trade isn’t known, but many varieties are being driven into extinction. Before species can be scientifically described, they’re stripped from the wild by poachers. As a result, botanists must hide locations of new finds, and work to reintroduce and protect endangered varieties. Kew scientist Mike Fay explains why orchids inspire such delirium: “They don’t have a normal lifestyle. They indulge in strange pollination, they have to have a relationship with a fungus for the seeds to even germinate, they have weird and wonderful flowers that are incredibly variable. Some are difficult to keep going, so it’s a way of showing you are a good horticulturist.”

Orchid seeds don’t carry nutrients. Instead, they rely on a specific fungus to supply food so they can germinate and grow. In the video below, Dr. Viswambharan Sarasan explains how this impacts Kew Gardens’ work to save rare British orchids. Scientists must collect fungi from orchid roots, take months to cultivate them, and identify which one each orchid needs. It’s like they’re matchmaking for endangered species.

Have you ever seen a drunk wasp? I have. Dave and I recently spotted one while were on a trail in a small wooded area near our home in Pacifica. The insect, shown in the first two photos above, was intoxicated from the nectar of a wild orchid, the Broad-Leaved Helleborine. The wasp hung upside down from a flower, moving slowly and erratically, and barely responding to our presence. We both spent a few minutes taking pictures, and then left it to sober up.

That intoxicating nectar is only one of the reasons why the Broad-Leaved Helleborine, Epipactis helleborine, is a fascinating orchid. It drugs its pollinators so they’ll stay on the flowers, too drunk to fly away, and therefore more likely to pick up and drop off pollen. The intoxicants in the flowers are far too weak to affect humans, but pack a wallop for the insects. Yet, that’s only part of this orchid’s successful strategies. In fact, it’s so successful that it’s become an invasive plant in North America. The species is native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, but has become established in the USA and Canada as well. As a result, it’s earned the nickname “weedy orchid.”

There’s definitely a lot to say about this intriguing species. Check back here soon for more photos and info about this intoxicating orchid.

This is the busiest month of orchid events since the pandemic began. More in-person shows are including health precautions, like mask requirements, in their publicity. There are still others which fail to do that, but they’re not listed here. Miami’s big annual show is a welcome return this month.

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In Defense of Plants explains why Catasetum orchids really stand out. They have fascinating flowers, but unlike most orchids, these beauties have different male and female blooms. This puzzled botanists long ago, who thought that they were separate species. It was the famous scientist Charles Darwin who finally resolved the confusion. Darwin studied how the male flowers launch their pollen at bees which have tripped a trigger. Attached to a small disk of glue, the pollen flies out and sticks to the bee, ready to be carried to another blossom.

Some Catasetum varieties have symbiotic relationships with ants, which live within their old pseudobulbs. The ants help protect the plants from being eaten, and also fertilize the orchids. Native to Central and South American jungles, Catasetums are closely related to Clowesias, Cycnoches, and Mormodes. They’re deciduous, dropping their leaves in the tropical dry season, and growing new ones as rains return.

To learn more about these extraordinary species and their stunning hybrids, also check out Catasetinae.com. The website includes lots of photos and culture information.

A long time ago, when I moved to California from the East Coast, I thought it was spring all the time. Part of my culture shock was learning that the seasons were different here. Around Philadelphia where I grew up, we had hot, humid summers, and cold, snowy winters. In contrast, San Francisco summers are mild and foggy, spring and autumn are warm, and winters are cool and rainy. But no matter the weather or location, today is the equinox everywhere. Day and night are balanced at 12 hours each, for a very brief time. From the equator to the poles, it’s the same. To celebrate this rare moment of global unity, enjoy this eclectic mix of orchids. Most of these photos are from shows, but a few are from my own garden. Happy Equinox.

If you love Lady Slippers, then the Slipper Orchid Alliance (SOA) is for you. This non-profit group is dedicated to conserving these incredible flowers, and educating everyone about them. Lady Slippers have a pouch, and include Paphs, Phrags, Cyps, Mexipediums, and Selenipediums. The SOA offers photo galleries, culture sheets, and a quarterly journal. Members can choose to receive the “Slipper Orchid” journal online or in print. It features informative articles, news, book reviews, and lots of great photos. Join the SOA to feed your Slipper Orchid addiction.