Keepers of the Wild Orchids
How the keepers of the wild orchid in the Netherlands cherish the fragile plant
With 20,000 members, orchids are among the largest plant families in the world. For many, the orchid is a houseplant bought at a garden center. Less well-known is that around forty species live in the wild in the Netherlands. There, they are endangered; almost all species are on the Red List.
They are sensitive to soil disturbances and the effects of climate change. Eutrophication, acidification, desiccation, and the fragmentation of natural areas take their toll, and orchids are among the first to suffer. This makes the species not only a plant but also the proverbial canary in the coal mine, an indicator of decline.
Beauty breeds desire, love can suffocate. Species hunters ('twitchers') sometimes thunder through areas with brute force, searching for a special find to tick off. That's why managers often keep locations secret. Although legally prohibited, wild orchids sometimes disappear into private collections. In botanical gardens, orchids are screened off to prevent them from being taken.
