Orchid Species Research Articles

Sustainable Native Orchid Tourism Demand in Central Veracruz, Mexico

Orchids are highly prized in the flower market; their extravagant colors and shapes make them an ideal target for rural tourism. Mexico has a diverse range of native orchids; this diversity can be exploited as a tourist resource since there are many enthusiasts who want to learn about them. However, information about orchid tourists’ demographics and consumption habits is scarce. The aim of this research was to evaluate the demand regarding native orchid tourism, as well as the consumption habits and tourism spending of orchid enthusiasts. We hypothesized that there is a high demand for native orchid tourism in central Veracruz and that tourists’ spending is mostly driven by age and educational level variables. To explore this hypothesis, we conducted a survey among the attendees of the “International Orchid Festival 2022” held in Coatepec, Veracruz. A total of 100 interviews were conducted among orchid tourists. The results show that most of them (92%) were interested in visiting and learning about orchids in their natural environment. Age and educational level variables were found to have a significant effect on daily and total spending during vacations. The orchid species preferred by tourists were Laelia anceps and Myrmecophila grandiflora. These results are useful for the creation of sustainable tourism services focused on the observation of native orchids and developing alternatives to improve the living conditions of families involved in cultivating native orchids.

Identification of pollinators of lesser twayblade Neottia cordata with DNA barcoding reveals strong links with pine forest‐related fauna

Many European terrestrial orchids are in decline. To curb this negative trend and preserve remaining populations, more ecological knowledge is needed. Surprisingly little is known yet about the identity and efficiency of pollinators of lesser twayblade Neottia cordata, a small terrestrial orchid species associated with pine trees through joint mycorrhizae. We identified its small and inconspicuous pollinators with DNA barcoding and assessed its fruit set with the help of observations submitted to various nature platforms. We caught pollinators on Terschelling in the Netherlands during the flowering season of 2013 and 2014. Insects were identified with 28S and COI sequences obtained from both fresh and museum‐preserved material identified by specialists. Several pollinators were detected, belonging to either parasitoid wasps (Braconidae) and spider wasps (Pompilidae), active during sunny periods, or fungus gnats (Mycetophilidae and Sciaridae), active during overcast conditions. Combined pollinator efforts resulted in a continuous average fruit set above 70% in Europe over the past 135 years. The parasitoid wasps were identified as Bracon pineti and Blacus sp., which strongly depend on pine trees for their prey. The fungus gnats were identified as Austrosciara hyalipennis, Trichosia lengersdorfi, Allodia lugens and Phronia forcipata. All four species are known to deposit their eggs in the vicinity of fruiting bodies of cone caps Strobilurus stephanocystis, mushrooms growing on pine cones, as their larvae feed on the fungi. Priocnemis pertubator and Anoplius viaticus (Pompilidae) are also important pollinators. Results obtained show that lesser twayblade is even more intricately linked to pine forest ecosystems than previously thought. Management of growth sites of N. cordata should be tailored towards preserving pine tree forests with plots that are constantly being rejuvenated to generate young pine trees and prevent succession towards birch–oak forests. Such forests not only provide mycorrhizal fungi and layers of needle litter needed for germination and development of the seeds of this orchid but also pinewood‐decaying fungi that provide egg deposition sites and food for its pollinators.

Unregulated wild orchid trade in Manipur: an analysis of the Imphal Valley markets from the Indo-Burma hotspot

Unsustainable and illegal trade of wild orchids at local and international markets is a well-known conservation issue throughout the world. Local as well as international trade of wild orchids is under-reported and under-researched. The study assessed wild orchids traded in markets of the Imphal Valley, the northeastern Indian state of Manipur in 2022–23. Eighty-two wild orchid species from 33 genera were observed to be traded including the wild orchid species, viz., Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum, Renanthera imschootiana, and Vanda coerulea, protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 of India. The local wild orchid trade in Imphal is unregulated, unchecked and unmonitored, which is a serious concern for the conservation of wild orchid species in Manipur and within the Indo-Burma hotspot.

Pollinator-mediated isolation promotes coexistence of closely related food-deceptive orchids.

Identifying the factors that contribute to reproductive isolation among closely-related species is key for understanding the diversification of lineages. In this study, we investigate the strength of premating and postmating reproductive isolation barriers between Disa ferruginea and Disa gladioliflora, a pair of closely-related species, often found co-flowering in sympatry. Both species are non-rewarding and rely on mimicry of different rewarding model flowers for attraction of pollinators. We constructed abiotic niche models for different forms of each taxon to measure ecogeographic isolation. Using experimental arrays in sympatry, we recorded pollinator transitions to measure ethological isolation. We performed hand pollinations to measure postpollination isolation. We found strong, but not complete, premating isolation associated with abiotic niches and absolute ethological isolation based on pollinator preferences in sympatry. Pollinator preferences among the orchids could be explained largely by flower colour (orange in D. ferruginea and pink in D. gladioliflora) which matches that of the pollinator food plants. Post-mating barriers were weak as the species were found to be inter-fertile. Coexistence in the orchid species pair is due mainly to ethological reproductive isolation arising from flower colour differences resulting from mimicry of different rewarding plants. These results highlight the importance of signalling traits for ethological isolation of closely-related species with specialized pollination systems.

Trade of legally protected orchids in Indonesian e-commerce markets

Summary Online markets are becoming increasingly important for the trade of orchids. However, the sale of orchids online raises conservation concerns, as some sellers use these platforms to bypass regulations. In March 2024, we assessed the extent of trade of 28 nationally protected orchid species in the five most visited Indonesian-language online markets. Twenty-four of the 28 orchid species protected in Indonesia were being traded online, involving 1294 advertisements posted by 789 sellers. The majority (93%) of these sellers were located in Java; 3882 orchid individuals were sold during the performance of this research, with a total trade value of IDR 262 129 387 (USD 16 911). Furthermore, there were 2 831 688 orchid individuals reported to be available in stock by sellers, with a total potential trade value of more than IDR 231 billion (USD 14.9 million). None of the recorded sellers in the present study declared a permit for the orchids they offered. Our findings can be utilized by law enforcement agencies to identify key players and areas involved in this trade, as well as by conservationists and policymakers to determine which species are being traded and so might require further conservation measures.

The chloroplast genome of Cephalanthera nanchuanica (Orchidaceae): comparative and phylogenetic analysis with other Neottieae species

BackgroundCephalanthera nanchuanica is a terrestrial orchid species and has been red listed as a second-grade protected plant due to its limited distributions in China. Initially classified within a monotypic genus Tangtsinia, this species was later reassigned to Cephalanthera based on morphological and molecular data. However, previous phylogenetic analyses of Cephalanthera using several segment sequences exhibited a low discriminatory power in delineating its relationships.ResultsIn this study, we characterized and comparatively analyzed the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of C. nanchuanica with those of six previously reported Cephalanthera species. Our findings revealed that the cp genome of C. nanchuanica had the typical quadripartite structure, with a size of 161,365 bp and a GC content of 37.27%. A total of 113 unique genes were annotated, among which nearly half of protein-encoding genes (RSCU > 1) showed a preference in codon usage. No structural rearrangements were observed among the cp genomes of Cephalanthera species, except for C. humilis, which displayed structural alterations due to gene loss, relocation, and inverted repeat (IR) expansion/contraction. The cp genomes of Cephalanthera species were highly conserved, with only a small number of SSRs detected, most of which preferred A/T bases. Comparative analysis of cp genomes indicated that IR and coding regions were less divergent than single copy and non-coding regions and eight mutational hotspots were identified. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the tribe Neottieae was a monophyletic group, divided into five clades. Palmorchis was the earliest-diverging lineage, followed by Cephalanthera. Diplandrorchis was deeply nested within Neottia, forming a clade. Aphyllorchis and Limodorum formed another clade, sister to Epipactis. Within the Cephalanthera clade, C. nanchuanica was sister to C. falcata with a strong support.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that the cp genome characters of C. nanchuanica are highly similar to those of other Cephalanthera species, except for the mycoheterotrophic species C. humilis. Although the cp genomes of Cephalanthera species (excluding C. humilis) exhibited conservation in genome structure and sequence, SSR repeats and mutational hotspots were identified, which could potentially serve as as molecular markers for distinguishing Cephalanthera species. The phylogenetic analysis based on the protein-coding genes provided high-resolution support for the infrageneric classification. Therefore, cp genome data will be instrumental in resolving the phylogeny of the genus Cephalanthera.

Phylogenetic analysis in silico of orchid species Dendrobium based on rbcl marker

Dendrobium is one of the genera of the third largest Orchidaceae family which reaches about 1184 species in the world. In Indonesia, this genus of orchids is a wealth of genetic resources that are abundant in the Eastern region, such as Papua and Maluku. These genetic resources have not been optimally utilized as elders in crossbreeding to produce offspring that have characteristics according to what consumers want. Due to the limitations of these morphological characteristics, another character is needed that can support the systematics of orchids, namely molecular characters. Plant kinship analysis can use molecular characters in the form of DNA strands that can overcome the weaknesses of morphological data that are known to have limitations and tend to be influenced by the environment. This study aims to analyze the kinship of several types of Dendrobium based on the rbcL gene and add to the basic data source of germplasm from the genus Dendrobium. The samples used were nucleotide sequences of 11 nucleotide sequences consisting of 10 types of Dendrobium (D. anosmum, D. jinghuanum, D. catenatum, D. nobile, D. jenkinsii, D. pahangense, D. nobile, D. pulchellum, D. fimbriatum, and D. pulchellum) which is used as an in group and 1 species of the genus Phalaenopsis namely Phalaenopsis equestris which is used as an outgroup. The results of Dendrobium kinship analysis with an in silico based rbcL gene molecular approach show that species in the same genus are not necessarily closely related. The species that is a member of the out group is Phalaenopsis equestris,. Phalaenopsis equestris forms its own tree branches, while the other 10 species are on the same phylogeny tree branches.

Utilidad de los portales en línea de ciencia ciudadana para estudios florísticos: Orquídeas de Santa María Yucuhiti, Oaxaca, México

Background: The beauty of orchids attracts the interest of users of citizen science portals, turning them into additional sources of information for the study of biodiversity. Currently, iNaturalist records observations of almost 70 % of Mexican orchid species. Here, we evaluate the usefulness of the platform to create a local floristic list of this group of plants. Question: Does the information available on iNaturalist allow for the creation of a local orchid checklist as a conventional floristic study does? Study site and dates: Observations recorded between 2007 and 2024 in Santa María Yucuhiti, Oaxaca, Mexico. Methods: Orchid observations in iNaturalist were reviewed and curated, assigning vegetation type and site elevation for each record. The resulting floristic checklist was commented and compared, using a richness index, with those of other regions of Oaxaca, that were prepared through conventional floristic studies. Results: The study area holds 107 species of orchids, 50 % are endemic to Mexico. The highest richness is found between 1,500-1,999 m elevation and in the oak forest. Acianthera hintonii, Habenaria tetranema and Prosthechea mulasii represent new records for Oaxaca. The study area showed the highest orchid richness index compared to other regions of Oaxaca. Conclusions: Information from iNaturalist allowed the preparation of the orchid checklist for Santa María Yucuhiti, supported by the validated observations on the platform. This, along with the availability of high-resolution photographs, the temporal continuity in documentation, and the exploration of sites with restricted access, enhances the quality of the checklist.

Island Biogeography Theory and the Island Rule in Orchid Bees in Panama

ABSTRACTAimThe study of the theory of island biogeographic (TIB) has focused mainly on plants and vertebrates, with support for the predictions that species richness decreases with distance from the mainland and increases with island size. However, less work has been done on invertebrates. Similarly, the study of the island rule has been studied mainly in vertebrates. A group of invertebrates that can facilitate the study of TIB and the island rule are orchid bees (Apidae: Euglossini), because they are easily collected and show powerful flight performances that allows them to travel long distances. We wondered if these bees would follow the predictions of island biogeography, given that their populations may not be isolated across islands. To test if there is an homogenitazion of orchid bee communities across islands, we evaluated orchid bees abundance and species composition across islands. Besides, we tested the island rule by examining body size variations in individuals collected across islands.LocationCoiba National Park (Panama).Time PeriodMay and June 2023.TaxaOrchid bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini).MethodsBy using traps with chemical attractants, we sampled male bees from five islands and the mainland in Coiba National Park in the Pacific side of Panama. We tested the TIB by evaluating whether richness decreased with distance from the mainland or whether increased with island area. To investigate the island rule, and whether there is variation in body size across islands, we used Euglossa imperialis and Euglossa mixta as models, the two most abundant species in the study area.ResultsFor the overall orchid bee community, we found that our results fit one of the predictions of IBT, increases in orchid bee abundance with island area; however, species richness did not decrease with isolation and did not increase with island area as predicted by TIB. An interesting result was that as distance from the mainland increased few species became more dominant. Regarding the island rule, we found in the two Euglossa species a marked pattern of reduction in body size as distance from the mainland increased, which seems to outweigh the effect of island size, since the largest island and one of the farthest showed some of the smallest body sizes.Main ConclusionsWhether euglossine bees travel long distances across islands in marine environments remain unclear. As distance from the mainland increases, few species become dominant, which may be caused by a decrease of resources that favours generalist species. This increase in abundance may explain the decrease in body size with isolation, as perhaps competition for resources increases. Our study provides novel insights to better appraise the dynamics of orchid bees' communities in insular habitats.

Mycorrhizal specialization toward each distinct Oliveonia fungus in two closely related photosynthetic Dactylostalix orchids

Abstract Although rhizoctonias from Ceratobasidiaceae, Tulasnellaceae and Serendipitaceae are typical orchid mycobionts, orchid mycorrhizal fungi exhibit vast taxonomic and ecological diversity. This diversity stems from the high specificity of orchid mycorrhizal associations and the remarkable diversity of over 28,000 orchid species. The subtribe Calypsoinae is particularly notable for its diverse mycorrhizal partnerships, including rhizoctonias, ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic non‐rhizoctonia fungi. However, the mycobionts within certain Calypsoinae lineages, such as the genus Dactylostalix, remain understudied. This study explores the physiological ecology of two photosynthetic Calypsoinae species, Dactylostalix ringens and Dactylostalix uniflora, to gain insight into potentially novel associations and their ecological implications. We analysed the mycorrhizal communities of both Dactylostalix species using high‐throughput ITS metabarcoding of root samples collected from multiple locations. Additionally, we measured the natural abundances of 13C and 15N isotopes in the leaves of the two Dactylostalix species and their co‐occurring autotrophic reference plants, as well as in fungal pelotons isolated from D. ringens, to assess the potential for partial mycoheterotrophy. Our findings revealed that D. ringens and D. uniflora form specialized mycorrhizal associations predominantly with distinct lineages of Oliveonia (Oliveoniaceae, Auriculariales), even in sympatric populations. Stable isotope analysis showed that both Dactylostalix species exhibited conflicting isotopic signals: elevated δ15N values, supporting partial mycoheterotrophy, but lower δ13C values compared to autotrophic plants, suggesting autotrophy. Peloton samples from D. ringens displayed only modest 13C enrichment relative to autotrophic references. These conflicting isotopic signals make it difficult to precisely determine whether both Dactylostalix species are autotrophic or partially mycoheterotrophic. Intriguingly, the 13C and 15N signatures of Dactylostalix species and their pelotons resemble those of many rhizoctonia‐associated orchids. This isotopic evidence implies a niche overlap with endophytic tendencies between rhizoctonias and Oliveonia, suggesting that potential endophytic traits may have facilitated the recruitment of Oliveonia as novel mycorrhizal partners. Furthermore, the mycorrhizal segregation between D. ringens and D. uniflora likely promotes their sympatric coexistence and may contribute to reproductive isolation through ecological specialization. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Entrega nocturna: Primer registro de polinios de orquídea (Orchidales: Orchidaceae) en polillas prominentes (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae)

Moths are significant pollinators and flower visitors globally, however their roles and mutualistic relationships with plants remain underexplored. This study highlights the novelty of the Nystaleinae Nycterotis jacobensis (Thiaucourt, 2008) as a potential orchid pollinator, evidenced by pollinia found on its proboscis. The specimen, collected in Utría National Natural Park, Colombia, would represent the first report of a prominent moth visiting orchids in this region. Additionally, we review recent observations of Dioptinae moths feeding on flowers, suggesting their potential role as pollinators. Our findings underscore the need for further research on the biology and ecology of Neotropical moths, particularly in ecosystems vulnerable to climate change. Future studies should focus on identifying the specific orchid species visited by Nycterotis and other Nystaleinae, as well as implementing diverse methodologies to assess the impact of these nocturnal pollinators on tropical ecosystem dynamics and their response to environmental changes.

Few-shot learning based on dual-attention mechanism for orchid species recognition

Few-shot learning based on dual-attention mechanism for orchid species recognition

Assessment of genetic parameters and heritability of Dendrobium species section Spatulata native to Indonesia

Being one of the most abundant genera of orchids, Dendrobium presents a valuable genetic resource for hybridization programs. Morphological characterization and assessment of genetic parameters plays a crucial role in establishing genetic connections among orchid species within the same genus. The study aims to discern the morphological traits of five Indonesian Dendrobium species, intending to evaluate their potential as candidates for crossbreeding programs. The materials used in this study were D. antennatum, D. discolor, D. stratiotes, D. lineale, D. gouldii, and D. sylvanum. This research examines 21 quantitative traits and 21 qualitative morphological traits of the studied Dendrobium. The findings reveal variations in characters related to flowers, leaves, and pseudobulbs. The analysis of genetic parameters indicates the presence of genetic diversity in traits such as flower stalk length, length of inflorescence, flower series length, flower length, flower width, dorsal sepal width, lateral sepal width, petal length, petal width, labellum length, labellum width, and the number of florets. All observed traits demonstrate high heritability. So, the characters that have high genetic variability and heritability are valuable in selection criteria for plant breeding.

Mitochondrial genome insights into the spatio-temporal distribution and genetic diversity of Dendrobium hancockii Rolfe (Orchidaceae).

With its distinctive evolutionary rate and inheritance patterns separate from the nuclear genome, mitochondrial genome analysis has become a prominent focus of current research. Dendrobium hancockii Rolfe, a species of orchid with both medicinal and horticultural value, will benefit from the application of the fully assembled and annotated mitochondrial genome. This will aid in elucidating its phylogenetic relationships, comparative genomics, and population genetic diversity. Based on sequencing results from Illumina combined with PacBio and Nanopore, the mitochondrial genome map of D. hancockii was constructed. Comparative analysis was conducted from the perspectives of phylogeny across multiple species, selection pressure on protein-coding genes, and homologous segments. The population diversity of D. hancockii was analyzed using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from the mitochondrial genome and single-copy nuclear genes. This research constructed a circular mitochondrial map for D. hancockii, spanning 523,952 bp, containing 40 unique protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA genes, and 4 ribosomal RNA genes. Comparative analysis of mitochondrial genes from 26 land plants revealed a conserved gene cluster, "rpl16-ccmFn-rps3-rps19," particularly within the Dendrobium genus. The mitochondrial genome of D. hancockii exhibits a lower point mutation rate but significant structural variation. Analysis of 103 resequencing samples identified 19,101 SNP sites, dividing D. hancockii into two major groups with limited gene flow between them, as supported by population diversity, genetic structure analysis, principal component analysis, and phylogenetic trees. The geographical distribution and genetic differentiation of D. hancockii into two major groups suggest a clear phytogeographical division, likely driven by ancient geological or climatic events. The close alignment of mitochondrial data with nuclear gene data highlights the potential of the mitochondrial genome for future studies on genetic evolution in this species.

Pollinator diversity of the food-deceptive orchids in southern Italy.

The orchid family is renowned for its enormous diversity in pollination biology. Many orchid species use deception to attract pollinators, and the main strategy in terrestrial orchids is food deception. Food-deceptive orchids usually show a low number of pollinator visitations, making field observations of pollinators difficult. In this study visual census, pollinator capture and molecular analysis of pollinaria found on caught insects allowed us to obtain information on species composition of orchid pollinators. A total of 321 insects were caught; most specimens were hymenopterans (Apis mellifera, Bombus ruderatus and Eucera rufa) and coleopterans (Tropinota hirta and T. squalida). The identity of species to which pollinaria found on the insect's body belonged was confirmed by molecular analysis. Moreover, some individuals of Billaea lata (Tachinidae, Diptera) were captured and photographed with the pollinaria on their head. Two new and important results emerged clearly in this work: a dipteran, Billaea lata, pollinator of Anacamptis pyramidalis, and two beetles in the genus Tropinota are pollinators of Orchis italica. Our results confirm that generalized food-deceptive orchids of the genera Orchis and Anacamptis show weak pollinator specificity.

Morphophysiological adaptations and fragrance profile analysis of two relocated orchid species

This study investigates the morpho-physiological adaptations and fragrance profiles of 2 relocated orchid species, Cattleya aclandiae x Brassavola Little star (V1) and Dendrobium var. Meesangnil (V2), following their translocation from Nagercoil to Coimbatore, India. The research aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying successful acclimatization of these fragrant orchids to a new environment, with implications for horticulture, conservation and therapeutic applications. Comprehensive analyses were conducted on vegetative growth parameters, flowering characteristics, physiological responses and volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles. Morphological assessments revealed distinct adaptive strategies between the 2 species, with Dendrobium exhibiting superior vertical growth (39.13 cm) and leaf production (9 leaves/plant), while Cattleya developed larger leaves (30.483 cm length, 7.178 cm breadth) and longer internodes (5.061 cm). Flowering characteristics also differed significantly, with Cattleya demonstrating earlier spike emergence and floret opening. Physiological analyses using a CI-340 Handheld Photosynthesis System showed higher photosynthetic rates, transpiration rates and stomatal conductance in Dendrobium, suggesting a more resource-acquisitive strategy. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified unique VOC profiles for each species, with 30 compounds detected in both varieties, including notable compounds such as n-Hexadecanoic acid, Octadecanoic acid and beta-Sitosterol. The study also explored potential applications in therapeutic horticulture, highlighting the diverse sensory and educational value of these orchid species. This comprehensive analysis of morphological, physiological and biochemical adaptations provides valuable insights into orchid acclimation processes and their potential for conservation and horticultural applications, contributing to our understanding of plant adaptability in the face of environmental changes and offering a foundation for future studies on orchid biology, ecology and therapeutic uses.

Neither nectar nor deception: the role of floral rewards in the pollination system of Laelia (Orchidaceae: Laeliinae).

Orchids offer a variety of floral rewards to pollinators. In many orchid groups, however, the transfer of pollen is based on food-deception, as in the case of Laelia (including Schomburgkia s.s.), a genus assigned to the Neotropical subtribe Laeliinae. Here, we report on the reproductive biology of a Brazilian member of this subtribe, namely, Laelia gloriosa, occurring in the forested areas of southeastern Brazil. The study includes analyses of floral morphology, histochemistry, and the chemical analysis of floral rewards and scents. Pollinators and pollination mechanism data were collected in the field by means of focal observations. Analyses of breeding systems and the percentage of potentially viable seed were also recorded. The floral morphology of Laelia gloriosa indicates that this species is melittophilous. The flowers release a citrus-like fragrance that attracts many species of bee. The flowers offer waxy material as a reward, and this is collected exclusively by Meliponini bees. Several bee species visit the flowers. However, those of L. gloriosa are pollinated exclusively by Trigona spinipes. Pollinaria are deposited on the bee's scutellum. Plants of the studied population were entirely self-compatible, but pollinator-dependent. The frequency of visits to these flowers was greater than in rewardless Laeliinae. Our study provides the first evidence of lipoidal substances as a resource in Laeliinae. The discovery that an orchid species (Laelia gloriosa) of this subtribe, hitherto considered to be entirely pollinated by nectar-seeking pollinators, offers a floral waxy material and provides new insights into the evolution of this important subtribe.

Gastrochilusbalangshanensis (Orchidaceae, Aeridinae), a new subalpine epiphytic orchid from the Mountains of Southwest China.

Gastrochilusbalangshanensis, a new orchid species from the Balang Mountain, Sichuan Province, Southwest China, is described and illustrated. It morphologically resembles G.affinis, but differs in having shorter stems, a reniform epichile and a sub-hemispherical hypochile (spur), obtuse-rounded at the apex. The results of molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ribosome internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and four chloroplast DNA markers (matK, psbA-trnH, psbM-trnD and trnL-F) from 50 Gastrochilus species indicate that G.balangshanensis is closely related to G.heminii and G.bernhardtianus, also endemic to the Hengduan Mountains. The novelty is a branch and trunk epiphyte in mixed coniferous forest.

Detailed biogeographical mapping as a useful novel tool for the conservation of endemic taxa: a case of study for Iberian orchids

Background Iberian orchids occur in plant communities designated as habitats of interest in the European Union, particularly in Mediterranean forests. Their ecological importance highlights the need for a deeper understanding of their distribution and ecological requirements in order to develop effective conservation and management policies. Methods This study focuses on the biogeographical mapping and characterisation of five Iberian and Balearic endemic orchid species at district level. Distribution data were collected from existing biodiversity databases and integrated into a Geographic Information System (GIS). In order to assign the correct biogeographical epithet to each taxon, a set of rules and criteria was developed to ensure an objective, simple and universal classification based on the species' distribution areas. Results For each orchid species, the study identified its phytosociological assignment, bioclimatic range and current conservation status. Detailed maps were produced, providing insights into the biogeographical, bioclimatic and phytosociological attributes of these taxa. Conclusions The biogeographical mapping and ecological classification presented in this study provide a basis for effective decision-making regarding the conservation and management of these orchid species. In addition, the results can be used to update their conservation status to better reflect their ecological needs and threats.

Community Economic Empowerment in the Ngoro Village PKK group through Orchid Cultivation

Orchids are a type of diverse and beautiful flower plant found throughout the world, including Indonesia. Orchids naturally thrive in forest environments or areas with abundant moisture and organic nutrients. Considering the decreasing area of forest, it is important to take immediate action to preserve and protect various orchid species that are threatened with extinction. The Ngoro Village PKK group together with Damar Farm held orchid planting training which highlighted the potential for cultivating quality orchid plants. The aim of this effort is to provide education to the local community and supervise orchid cultivation as a means of earning a living for the family. The approach taken is through practice and question and answer sessions. Participants included sub-district heads and women from the PKK group in Ngoro Village. This material provides an overview of orchids, including the characteristics, potential, and techniques for propagating and cultivating these plants. The results of these efforts resulted in a significant increase in participants' understanding of orchid plants. There are two types of orchids that are commonly used for training: pigeon orchids (Dendrobium crumenatum) and ground orchids (Spathoglottis plicata). This orchid is famous for its ease of reproduction by separating young plants. Coconut fiber is an orchid planting medium that is often found in this area.