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Every year, populations of orchids vanish from the wild. Perhaps the forest where they grow is felled for timber, or their swampland habitat is drained for agriculture. Some species are decimated by collectors in search of horticultural novelties or valuable sources of folk medicines. As the threats that orchids face continue to increase, conservation of these fascinating plants becomes ever more essential to guarantee their survival. Today, plant conservation is a key activity for botanic gardens around the world. Through their research, they help to monitor biodiversity and to identify species that face particular problems. The knowledge and experience of Kew’s orchid specialists contribute to the development of action plans for the conservation of the family. For example, by establishing genetic fingerprints of different orchid populations in the UK, they are supporting the conservation management of endangered native species. Kew’s Micropropagation Unit develops methods of propagating terrestrial orchids from Britain, Europe and North America. Already seedlings of five endangered British species have been reintroduced to selected sites around the country. These include the ladies slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) which had been reduced to a single location in the UK. The seeds of all the UK orchid species are held in the cold dry conditions of the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place, ready to be made available for research and possible reintroduction into the wild.
More: Investigating orchids>>>
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