China’s Lucrative Orchid Industry Is a Test for the Nation’s Commitment to Conservation

Posted September 28th, 2023 by Marc Cohen
Categories: Conservation, In the News

China is a hotspot of botanical diversity, and that includes orchids. Many have been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, but are being threatened by habitat loss and overcollection. Dozens of species of Dendrobiums are among those collected from the wild. The dried plants are added into teas or soups to help a variety of ailments. As China’s orchids have become overcollected and rare, it’s importing them from neighboring countries.

Fortunately, China is starting to better conserve its orchids. In 2o21, the nation declared all 96 of its native Dendrobium species to be protected. It’s encouraging farmers to cultivate them in industrial greenhouses, or in native forest conditions, rather than collect wild plants. Challenges include enforcing new rules, and reversing the declines in orchid numbers. If China can balance traditional uses with conservation, it can be a model for other countries working to protect their native orchid species.

Autumn Orchid Colors

Posted September 22nd, 2023 by Marc Cohen
Categories: Photos

Paphiopedilum Winston Churchill 'Indomitable' FCC/AOS, Paph, Lady Slipper orchid hybrid flowers, Pacific Orchid Expo 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaZygoneria Adelaide Meadows, Zygo, orchid hybrid flower, Pacific Orchid Expo 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaVanda orchid flower, blue and white flower, Pacific Orchid Expo 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

Cochlioda densiflora var. flava 'Mango', orchid species flowers, brilliant yellow and white flowers, Pacific Orchid Expo 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaCymbidium hybrid orchid flower, Pacific Orchid Expo 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaDracula polyphemus 'J & L's Big Red', orchid species flower, weird flower, pleurothallid, Pacific Orchid Expo 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

The seasons cycle on as fall arrives today in the northern hemisphere.  Autumnal orchid colors include the reds, yellows, oranges, purples, and browns of falling leaves, along with the blues of a crisp, clear sky. These photos are from last winter’s Pacific Orchid Expo in San Francisco. Happy equinox.

Cymbidium Strathdon Cooksbridge Fantasy, orchid hybrid flowers, peloric flowers, Pacific Orchid Expo 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaCattleya Fire Magic, Sophrolaeliocattleya Fire Magic, orchid hybrid flowers, Pacific Orchid Expo 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaMasdevallia orchid flower, Pacific Orchid Expo 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

Dendrobium Hilda Poxon, orchid hybrid flowers, Pacific Orchid Expo 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaPaphiopedilum Julius, Paph, Lady Slipper orchid hybrid flower, Pacific Orchid Expo 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaCymbidium Wallamurra 'Jupiter', orchid hybrid flowers, Pacific Orchid Expo 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

Demystifying Orchid Pollination

Posted September 16th, 2023 by Marc Cohen
Categories: Books, Fragrant Orchids, Videos

The vast, diverse orchid family uses a mind-boggling number of strategies to attract pollinators and attach pollen to them. Check out a few of their fascinating methods in the videos below —

Lady in Black – Pollination in Vanilla

Blowin’ in the Wind – Wind mediated pollination in orchids

What Have I Done to Deserve This? – The unusual ecology of the bucket orchid Coryanthes

Your Latest Trick – Telipogon pollination

Comfortably Numb – Poisonous nectar and inebriated pollinators

Find additional orchid pollination videos at Adam Karremans’ YouTube channel, and discover more in his upcoming book, Demystifying Orchid Pollination.

More Photos from Orchids in the Park

Posted September 10th, 2023 by Marc Cohen
Categories: Photos

Dendrobium rhodopterygium semi-alba, orchid species flowers, white and purple flowers, fuzzy flower lips, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaPhalanaenopsis flower, Moth Orchid, Phal, spotted flower, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaEpidendrum hybrid flowers, Crucifix Orchid, purple and yellow flowers, reed stem epidendrum, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

Dendrobium tobaense, orchid species flower, weird flower, green and red flower, strange flower lip, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaPaphiopedilum Hilo Black Eagle, orchid hybrid flowers, Paph, Lady Slipper, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaTolumnia velutina, orchid species flowers, small purple and yellow flowers, equitant oncidium, dancing lady orchid, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

This summer’s Orchids in the Park event filled Golden Gate Park with truly extraordinary flowers. My first post simply scratched the surface. Here are more photos, featuring the species, the hybrids, the latest trends, and the classics. It’s tough to pick favorites, but since I’ve grown Masdevallia chaparensis at home for many years, it’s already a favorite. The yellow flower throat illuminates those purple-leopard spots from within. It’s just one of the magical things that orchids do.

Masdevallia chaparensis 'Rip Off', orchid species flower, flower close up, pleurothallid, flower with purple spots, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaMasdevallia Mary Staal x infracta, orchid hybrid flower, pleurothallid, purple and yellow flower, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaGrammatophyllum flower, spotted flower, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

Wilsonara Eye Candy 'Pinkie', Oncostele, orchid hybrid flower, oncidium hybrid, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaMaxillaria sanderiana var. xanthina, orchid species flower, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaOncidium Aka Baby 'Raspberry Chocolate' HCC/AOS, orchid hybrid flowers, Dancing Lady Orchid, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

September Orchid Events

Posted September 1st, 2023 by Marc Cohen
Categories: Events

From Tasmania to Queeensland, Australians are celebrating orchids this month. There are over 60 events listed below for Australia, and eight in New Zealand, too. North and South America, Europe, and Asia are in there, also, with big shows in Tokyo, Tampa, Bogotá, and Lisbon.

September 1 – 2
Nambour Orchid Show, Uniting Church Hall, Coronation Ave., Nambour, Queensland, Australia
September 1 – 2
Tweed District Orchid Society Show, Jessie McMillan Hall, 16 Wollumbin St., Murwillumbah, NSW, Australia
September 1 – 2
Cumberland Orchid Circle Show, Winston Hills Mall, Caroline Chisholm Dr., Winston Hills, NSW, Australia
September 1 – 3
Atlanta Orchid Society Show, Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, Georgia
September 1 – 3
Expo Orquídeas de la Independencia, Parqueo Clínica Bíblica, 6to piso, Av. 14, San José, Costa Rica
September 2
South Auckland Orchid Society Show, Pukekohe Town Hall, Massey Ave., Pukekohe, Auckland, New Zealand
September 2
Shoalhaven Orchid Society Show, Bomaderry Community Centre, 21 Birriley St., Bomaderry, NSW, Australia
September 2 – 3
Welsh Orchid Festival, Aberglasney Gardens, Llangathen, Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK
September 2 – 3
Manawatu Orchid Society Spring Show, Community Leisure Centre, 569 Ferguson St., Palmerston North, New Zealand
September 2 – 3
Sale and District Orchid Society Show, VRI Hall, Pettit Dr., Sale, Victoria, Australia

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What Drives Orchid Diversity?

Posted August 26th, 2023 by Marc Cohen
Categories: Conservation, In the News

In Defense of Plants has a great podcast about orchid diversity with Dr. Tatiana Arias, who is a botanist at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida. Arias is trying to understand why orchids are so diverse, and what drives their evolution. Orchids boast incredible variety among 30,000 species worldwide. She’s particularly interested in her home country, Colombia, which has over 4200 native species. Her research focuses on Pleurothallids, such as Lepanthes and Draculas, and requires collaboration with other scientists, hobbyists, farmers, and even former guerrillas. Some basic questions, like defining what a species is, can be challenging. With legal permits, Arias collects leaves and flowers to make dried herbarium specimens, takes pictures, and does genetic analyses. She’s always conscious of how endangered many of these orchids are, and works to conserve them. Learn more at the Arias Lab.

Maui Memories and Botanical Wonders

Posted August 19th, 2023 by Marc Cohen
Categories: Botanical Gardens, Photos

Protea flower, fuzzy purple flower, Kula Botanical Gardens, Kula, Maui, HawaiiSpathoglottis plicata, orchid species flower, Philippine Ground Orchid, Garden of Eden Arboretum, Haiku, Maui, HawaiiWater lily flower, purple and yellow flower, flower seen from above with leaves and water below, Garden of Eden Arboretum, Haiku, Maui, Hawaii

Dave and I have been so fortunate to vacation in Hawaii over the years, but we’ve only been to Maui once. It was in 2005, before this old blog began. Maybe it’s a cliché to call it paradise, but it’s truly deserving of the title. These photos show a tiny fraction of the botanical wonders we saw. Sadly, unprecedented firestorms have devastated parts of the island, killing people, plants, and animals, destroying homes and businesses, and disrupting life for everyone there. There are many reputable charities helping Maui, and a few are listed at the end of this post. Please donate if you can.

Epidendrum orchid flowers, cluster of orange and yellow flowers, Kula Botanical Gardens, Kula, Maui, HawaiiBanksia flower, probably Banksia coccinea, Scarlet Banksia, weird red and white flower, Kula Botanical Gardens, Kula, Maui, HawaiiPaphiopedilum orchid flowers, Paph, Lady Slippers, flowers and leaves, Kula Botanical Gardens, Kula, Maui, Hawaii

Solandra maxima, Cup of Gold Vine flower, Golden Chalice Vine, Hawaiian Lily, large flower, Kula Botanical Gardens, Kula, Maui, HawaiiMan standing in a large patch of Epidendrum orchids, clusters of orange and yellow flowers, Kula Botanical Gardens, Kula, Maui, HawaiiEpidendrum orchid flowers, cluster of purple flowers, Kula Botanical Gardens, Kula, Maui, Hawaii

Most of these old photos are from Kula Botanical Garden. A few others are from the Garden of Eden Arboretum, located on the famous Road to Hana. The last row of photos has two shots of rare Silversword plants from the summit of Haleakala Volcano. As far as I know, none of these areas have been damaged by the fires. The final photo, however, shows Lahaina’s beloved banyan tree. It covers a whole city block, with many massive trunks and enormous branches. This single tree feels like its own forest. While it was burned in the fire, it’s still standing, and scientists hope that it can survive and recover.

Haleakala Silversword plants, Argyroxiphium sandwicense subsp. macrocephalum, East Maui Silversword, ʻāhinahina, succulent plant with gray leaves, Haleakalā, Maui, HawaiiHaleakala Silversword plants, Silversword with very tall flower spike, Argyroxiphium sandwicense subsp. macrocephalum, East Maui Silversword, ʻāhinahina, succulent plant with gray leaves, Haleakalā, Maui, HawaiiLahaina Banyan Tree, Ficus benghalensis, paniana, large tree in Lahaina, large tree with people walking underneath, Maui, Hawaii

This disaster is stark proof, in case anybody still needs it, that climate change is affecting every corner of the world, even paradise. For now, officials are asking tourists to stay away so that resources can be used for ongoing local rescue efforts. If you can, please donate to help Maui recover.

 

Turkey’s Endangered Orchids Are Disappearing, One Sip at a Time

Posted August 13th, 2023 by Marc Cohen
Categories: Conservation, In the News

In Turkey, Greece, and parts of the Middle East, salep is a beloved food. For thousands of years, the roots of local orchids have been used to make salep, which is turned into hot drinks, and also a type of thick ice cream. Almost two centuries ago, novelist Jane Austen described the delicious appeal of the drink, which was called salop in Britain: “Tea is great, coffee greater; chocolate, properly made, is for epicures; but these are thin and characterless compared with the salop swallowed in 1826.”

Sadly, salep’s increasing popularity is threatening the orchids, and the harvest of wild plants is unsustainable. Ophrys, Orchis, and Dactylorhiza orchids are dug up, and their tubers are boiled, dried, and crushed into powder. While a few farmers cultivate the plants, it’s mostly made from wild orchids. Scientists are working to conserve the species, but in the meantime, they’re asking people not to buy salep unless they’re certain that it’s been legally and sustainably harvested. Many who enjoy salep don’t realize that it’s derived from orchids. There’s hope that educating consumers about the ingredients will help to protect them.

Read more about salep in my previous posts:

Photos from Orchids in the Park 2023

Posted August 6th, 2023 by Marc Cohen
Categories: Photos

Brassolaeliocattleya Waianae Leopard 'Volcano Queen', orchid hybrid flowers, cattleya flowers, spotted flowers, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaDendrobium (helix x lasianthera) 'Crystalline', orchid hybrid flower, antelope dendrobium, twisted petals, spiral petals, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaPhalaenopsis Tying Shin Fly Eagle 'Wilson #66', orchid hybrid flower, Moth Orchid, Phal, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

Zygopetalum Debbie De Mello 'Honolulu Baby' x Zygo. Advance Australia 'HOF' AM/AOS, orchid hybrid flower, purple green and white flower, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaLady Slipper flower, Paphiopedilum orchid, Paph, yellow and white flower, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaMasdevallia Ronald Leathers, orchid hybrid flower, deep purple flower, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

Last weekend’s Orchids in the Park event was impressive as always. Even though it was smaller than San Francisco’s main winter expo, there was plenty to enjoy. For myself, having grown orchids for over three decades, it’s exciting to find something I’ve never seen before. The final photo in the third row shows a species which was new to me. That strange green bloom belongs to an extremely tall Madagascar native, Oeceoclades calcarata, which towered over all the other plants with a crowded flower spike. It was far too large for me to fit into my collection, but it left me in awe of immense variety of the orchid family. Check back soon for more from Orchids in the Park.

Laelia tenebrosa var. aurea 'Tiffany', orchid species flowers, large flowers, yellow purple and white flowers, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaDisa unifora, orchid species flower, Pride of Table Mountain, large flower, red flower, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaOeceoclades calcarata, orchid species flower, green flower, species from Madagascar, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

Vanda Lavender Lace, orchid hybrid flower, purplish-blue and white flower, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaAnguloa virginalis, orchid species flower, swaddled babies orchid, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaEpidendrum orchid hybrid flower, reed stem epidendrum, Orchids in the Park 2023, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

August Orchid Events

Posted August 1st, 2023 by Marc Cohen
Categories: Events

Among August’s shows, auctions, walks, and talks, I’ve listed the first orchid event I’ve ever found in Alaska, Gardening with Native Alaskan Orchids. It’s a workshop offered at Pratt Museum & Park in the small town of Homer, and it sounds like an amazing opportunity to learn about very hardy orchids.

August 2 – 7
Florecer: Orquídeas, Naturaleza y Tradiciones, Jardín Botánico de Medellín, Cl. 73 #51D-14, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
August 3 – 7
Colombia Exótica – Flores, Frutas y Artesanias, Univ. Pontificia Bolivariana, Circular 1 #70-01, Laureles – Estadio, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
August 4 – 5
Maroochydore Orchid Society Show, Uniting Church Hall, Gloucester Rd., Buderim, Queensland, Australia
August 4 – 6
Manly Warringah Orchid Society Winter Show, HomeCo Belrose, 4/6 Niangala Close, Belrose, NSW, Australia
August 5
Houston Orchid Society Summer Workshop, First Christian Church, 1601 Sunset Blvd., Houston, Texas
August 5 – 6
Meet the Experts – Orchids, RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Crag Ln., Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK
August 5 – 6
Warringal Orchid Society Winter Show, St. Sava Community Centre, 212 Diamond Creek Rd., Greensborough, Victoria, Australia
August 6
Orchid Learning Day & Orchid Auction, San Mateo Garden Center, 605 Parkside Way, San Mateo, California
August 9 – 12
Simpósio Brasileiro de Orquídeas, CREA – MS, Auditório Arq. Arnaldino da Silva, Rua Sebastião Taveira, 268, São Francisco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
August 11 – 13
Taiwan: A World of Orchids, Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Queens, New York

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