Wednesday 22 May
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Orchid (Phragmipedium besseae)
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Find out here.Orchid fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
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Orchid description
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Liliopsida |
| Order | Orchidales |
| Family | Orchidaceae |
| Genus | Phragmipedium (1) |
The recently discovered orchid Phragmipedium besseae boasts spectacular and instantly recognisable flowers, which are bright scarlet-orange in colour (4).
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Related species
Orchid biology
Phragmipedium besseae is a terrestrial orchid, which grows on moss-covered rocks. Groups may be in bloom for much of the year due to the repeated nature of flowering (4).
TopOrchid range
Endemic to Ecuador and Peru in South America (4), populations in Peru are now believed to be extinct (2).
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Species with a similar range
Orchid habitat
The most recently reported site occurred in montane forest at around 2,000 metres above sea level (4).
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Species found in a similar habitat
Orchid status
Classified as Vulnerable on the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants (2), and listed on Appendix I of CITES (3).
TopOrchid threats
Orchids in this region are under threat from the continued destruction of their native habitat (4). These highly attractive flowers are also in commercial demand and over-collection has driven many populations to the brink of extinction (4).
TopOrchid conservation
Phragmipedium besseae is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which bans trade in wild-collected plants (3). The protection of remaining habitat will be the key to securing its future in the wild.
TopAuthentication
Authenticated (5/6/03) by Dr Phillip Cribb. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk
Glossary
- Endemic
- A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.
References
- IUCN Red List (April, 2003) www.redlist.org
- Walter, K.S. & Gillett, H.J. [eds] (1998) 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants. Compiled by the World Conservation Monitoring Center. IUCN The World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
- CITES (April, 2003) www.cites.org
- Oakeley, H. (2001) Ecuador revisited: Phragmipedium bessae, and other orchids, at home. Orchid Review, 109 (1240): 245 - 247.
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Image credit
Phragmipedium besseae flower
© Phillip J. Cribb / Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 3AB
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 208 332 5000
Fax: +44 (0) 208 332 5197
info@kew.org
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk
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