Copyright © <2023 & 2024> North American Conservation Center (NAOCC), a program of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), https://northamericanorchidcenter.org/. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from NAOCC from the newsletter of the North American Orchid Conservation Center (NAOCC)
By Julianne McGuinness and Melissa McCormick
The Smithsonian’s North American Orchid Conservation Center (NAOCC) and several long-time collaborators – Longwood Gardens, Smithsonian Gardens, the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, the Desert Botanical Garden , the Chicago Botanic Garden and Illinois College’s Orchid Recovery Program – have launched an exciting new project to develop propagation protocols for North American native orchid species. Native Orchid Propagation for Sustainability (NOPS) is an important new phase in NAOCC’s mission to preserve our native orchids for future generations.
Orchids play a vital role in ecosystems and environmental health, sharing intricate interdependencies with specific trees, pollinators, soils, and mycorrhizal fungi. Their presence is an indicator that the pieces of the environmental puzzle are in place. When orchids disappear from historical habitats, it is a sign something is wrong. Orchids are indeed, a “canary in the coal mine” – signaling the urgent need to address accelerated climate change and biodiversity loss.
Cypripedium acaule (Pink Lady’s Slipper), Photo © Hal Horwitz
Few North American (north of Mexico) native orchid species have been propagated in botanic gardens to date because of their complex habitat and growth requirements. Much work is still needed to unlock this puzzle to develop “best practices” for propagation of the broad range of US and Canadian native orchid species. (While there are examples of propagation success stories, most of this work to date has been done on an individual basis. We aim to take our collective propagation knowledgebase to the next level research trials to produce standardized protocols for broad dissemination.)
Funding was secured to begin NOPS as a 5-year project focused on the sustainable propagation of 25 orchid species from different U.S. ecoregions. Eventually, the project will expand to include additional partners and orchid species. The ultimate aim is to develop best practice propagation protocols for all of the native orchids of North America north of Mexico.
The knowledge we will gain through NOPS will inform restoration projects, allow botanical gardens to establish native orchid collections, and will benefit orchid professionals and enthusiasts alike – while advancing NAOCC’s vision to ensure the survival of all native orchids of the US and Canada.
NOPS is an important new phase in NAOCC’s mission to preserve our native orchids, many of which are threatened or disappearing throughout their ranges.
Spiranthes delitescens (Canelo Hills ladies’ tresses). Photo © Melissa McCormick
The collaborators have selected an initial “short list” of several species to begin with, and will add additional species once the program is well underway. We will study orchids from different habitats – from the temperate north to Florida to the arid southwest – species that represent a range of ecological life history strategies and conservation priorities. Collaborators will work in concert to replicate methods, and results will be published and shared broadly.
We anticipate that this research will provide the basic horticultural knowledge required to support the growth, survival, and reproduction of native orchids from seed to flowering plants, as well as advance our collective understanding of orchid-fungal interactions. The resultant “best practice” propagation protocols for individual native orchid species will be used to inform sustainable growing practices and support efforts
Calopogon tuberosus (tuberous grass pink). Photo © Hal Horwitz
by a wide range of horticulture professionals, hobby growers, and individuals – and ultimately, to advance biodiversity and conservation goals.
NAOCC and our NOPS collaborators are very appreciative of the partnership and support for this project by the U.S. Botanic Garden, Smithsonian Gardens, and Longwood Gardens, as well as the generous contributions of the Maxwell-Hanrahan Foundation, Biophilia Foundation, Underwood & Associates, The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen, and private individuals. Thank You!
