In 2006, Kew conservationists rescued several plants of the endangered Montserrat orchid from dead trees on the volcano-ravaged island of Montserrat and installed them in the security of the island’s botanic garden.
<p>In 2006, Kew conservationists rescued several plants of the endangered Montserrat orchid from dead trees on the volcano-ravaged island of Montserrat and installed them in the security of the island’s botanic garden.</p>
<img title="Epidendrum montserratense in flower" alt="Yellow flowers of Epidendrum montserratense" src="[!--$wcmUrl('resource','groups/public/documents/image/ppcont_010572.jpg')--]" />
<em>Epidendrum montserratense</em> in flower (Image: Martin Hamilton)
<h2><span class="header3">About this species</span></h2><p>First identified as a distinct species in 2000, from a specimen collected in 1907, <em>Epidendrum montserratense</em> represents one of Montserrat's two surviving endemic plant species (those that are found only on the island). The other surviving endemic species is <a href="[!--$wcmUrl('link','Rondeletia-buxifolia.htm')--]" title="Visit the species page for Rondeletia buxifolia"><em>Rondeletia buxifolia</em></a> (Rubiaceae). A third endemic plant, <em>Xylosma serrata</em> (Salicaceae), has not been found since its only known habitat was destroyed by volcanic lava flows and ash falls in the late 1990s.</p>
<h2><span class="header3">References & Credits</span></h2><p>Jones, M. (2008). <em>Distribution and Conservation of Montserrat's Endemic Flora </em>(MSc thesis, Imperial College, London). <a title="Click here for PDF" href="http://www.iccs.org.uk/thesis/consci/msc08-jones,miranda.pdf">Click here for PDF</a></p><p>Young, R. P. (ed)., (2008). A biodiversity assessment of the Centre Hills, Montserrat (Durrell Conservation Monograph No 1, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Jersey, Channel Islands). <a target="" href="http://www.kew.org/science/directory/projects/annex/Durrell_Cons_Monogra.pdf ">Click here for PDF</a><br /><strong><br /> Kew Science Editor:</strong> <a href="http://www.kew.org/science/directory/people/Griggs_Pat.html" title="Pat Griggs">Pat Griggs</a><br /><strong>Copy</strong><strong>editing:</strong> Emma Tredwell<br /> <br />While every effort has been taken to ensure that the information contained in these pages is reliable and complete, the notes on hazards, edibility and suchlike included here are recorded information and do not constitute recommendations. No responsibility will be taken for readers’ own actions. <a title="Full website terms and conditions available here" href="[!--$wcmUrl('nodelink','349')--]">Full website terms and conditions</a><br /> <br /> </p>
Geography & Distribution
species-section2
Text
<p><em>Epidendrum montserratense</em> occurs only on the volcanic island of Montserrat in the Caribbean, which has a humid tropical climate. Montserrat is one of the <a href="http://www.kew.org/science/ukots/index.html " title="More about the UK's Overseas Territories">UK's Overseas Territories</a>.</p>
left
left
Description
species-section1
Text
<p>Perched on the trunk or branches of a host tree, the leathery leaves of <em>Epidendrum montserratense</em> can be hard to spot before the plant comes into flower. Then, the masses of small vivid yellow flowers, each with a distinctive three-lobed lip, make it easy to find. It can also be easily distinguished from other orchids on the island by its branched inflorescences (flower-bearing parts). This species has elongated swollen stems, called pseudobulbs, which store water, so that it can survive through the dry season.</p>
left
left
Threats & Conservation
species-section3
Left Image and Caption
<img title="Rescued specimens of Epidendrum montserratense being anchored onto a supporting tree in the Montserrat Botanic Garden" alt="Rescued specimens of Epidendrum montserratense being anchored onto a supporting tree" src="[!--$wcmUrl('resource','groups/public/documents/image/ppcont_010573.jpg')--]" />
<p>Rescued specimens of <em>Epidendrum montserratense</em> being anchored onto a supporting tree in the Montserrat Botanic Garden (Image: Martin Hamilton)</p>
<p>One area of western Montserrat where <em>Epidendrum montserratense </em>is commonly found still suffers from ash clouds, venting from the island's active volcano. Not only does the hot ash damage the host trees, but it also blocks rivers, causing flash floods, which destroy river valley vegetation. Another area of suitable habitat, in the Silver Hills in northern Montserrat, has largely escaped volcanic damage but has become even more important for agriculture and building land for the island's remaining human population.</p><p>Two collections of seeds from<em> Epidendrum montserratense</em> are now safely stored in Kew's Millennium Seed Bank. Living plants, rescued from dead mango trees, have been taken to the Montserrat National Trust's newly developed botanic garden where they are being cultivated for future display.</p>
left
left
Millennium Seed Bank: Seed storage
species-section5
Text
<p>Kew's <a title="Learn more about the MSBP" href="[!--$wcmUrl('nodelink','209')--]">Millennium Seed Bank partnership</a> aims to save plant life world wide, focusing on plants under threat and those of most use in the future. Seeds are dried, packaged and stored at a sub-zero temperature in our seed bank vault.</p> <p><strong>Description of seeds: </strong>Tiny dust-like seeds.<strong><br />Number of seed collections stored in the Millennium Seed Bank: </strong>2, (65,000 seeds in total).</p>
left
left
Cultivation
species-section3
Text
<p>Kew's Conservation Biotechnology Unit has successfully germinated the dust-like seeds of <em>Epidendrum montserratense</em> on a nutrient-rich gel under laboratory conditions. They are now being grown on, until they are large enough to withstand transplanting to orchid compost in a nursery glasshouse.</p>
left
left
Kew's work in Montserrat
species-section2
Text
<p>With over 800 native plant species, Montserrat is one of the richest of all the UK Overseas Territories in terms of its plant diversity. <a href="http://www.kew.org/science/ukots/index.html " title="More about Kew's UKOTs team work">Kew's UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) Team</a> has been involved in conservation projects there since 1998. During a Darwin Initiative-funded project 'Enabling the people of Montserrat to conserve the Centre Hills', the team collected specimens and habitat information and assessed the plant biodiversity of an area of the island relatively undamaged by volcanic eruptions. This 'ground-truthing' data provided essential evidence to confirm the landscape types shown on a vegetation map of the island developed from aerial photographs and habitat modelling work.</p>
<p>A subsequent project, 'Strengthening the capacity for Species Action Planning on Montserrat', focused more closely on the island's two surviving endemic plant species <em>Rondeletia buxifolia</em> and <em>Epidendrum montserratense</em>. Species Action Plans (SAP) are designed to document the biology of a threatened species, the threats that it faces and the actions needed to conserve it. As a result of this project, the two species have been designated as Critically Endangered (based on the <a title="The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/">IUCN Red List</a> criteria) and areas of particular value for conservation of native plant biodiversity have been identified.</p><p>Kew's UKOTs Team has also been involved in the development of Montserrat's new national botanic garden, helping to define the garden's role and main activities. The Team has also assisted with the development of a landscape master plan, providing training in horticultural techniques and advice on propagation and cultivation facilities.</p>
left
left
Useful Links
species-section1
Text
<p><span class="header3">Work in Montserrat</span></p> <p><a href="http://www.kew.org/science/directory/projects/UKOT_MONsaps.html" title="More on strengthening capacity for Species Action Planning in Montserrat">Strengthening capacity for Species Action Planning in Montserrat</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.kew.org/science/directory/projects/ExSituConsCollsUKOTs.html" title="More on developing Ex Situ Conservation Collections of UKOTs Species In-Territory and at Kew ">Developing Ex Situ Conservation Collections of UKOTs Species In-Territory and at Kew </a></p> <p><a href="http://www.kew.org/science/directory/projects/EnabMontserrCentreHi.html" title="Project: Enabling the people of Montserrat to conserve the Centre Hills">Project: Enabling the people of Montserrat to conserve the Centre Hills </a></p> <p><a href="http://www.kew.org/science/ukots/Pages/montserrat2a1i.htm " title="More on the UK Overseas Territories Programme">UK Overseas Territories Programme<br /><br /></a></p> <p><span class="header3">Partner organisations for these projects include: </span></p> <p><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/projects/montserrat/index.asp" title="More on the RSPB" class="external-link">The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.durrell.org/" title="More on Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust" class="external-link">Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust </a></p> <p>Montserrat Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing and the Environment</p> <p><a href="http://www.montserratnationaltrust.ms/" title="Visit the Montserrat National Trust website" class="external-link">Montserrat National Trust</a><br /> </p><p><span class="header3">Also at Kew:</span></p> <p><a title="See results on ePic" href="http://epic.kew.org/searchepic/summaryquery.do?scientificName=Epidendrum+montserratense+&searchAll=true&categories=names&categories=bibl&categories=colln&categories=taxon&categories=flora&Submit.x=54&Submit.y=9">Results for <em>Epidendrum montserratense</em> on ePic</a> </p> <p><a href="[!--$wcmUrl('nodelink','1044')--]" title="Learn about what the MSB is doing in Montserrat">Millennium Seed Bank Partnership - Our work in Montserrat</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.kew.org/science/micropropagation.html" title="Learn more about conservation biotechnology">Conservation biotechnology</a></p>
left
left
<em>Epidendrum montserratense</em> Nir
This species is rated by the <a class="external-link" title="International Union for Conservation of Nature" href="http://www.iucn.org">IUCN</a> as Critically Endangered, because it is restricted to a small area on the island of Montserrat, where much of its natural habitat has been destroyed or damaged, either by volcanic eruptions or human activity.
This orchid usually grows on trees (is epiphytic) or, less frequently, on rocks (is lithophytic) so its roots have no contact with the soil. It is most commonly found on forest trees in areas which have been disturbed by storms or human activities such as agriculture. Fine specimens have been found on old mango trees and sugar mill ruins on Montserrat.
None known.
0