Until recently, a myriad of lifeforms enriched our lives. In some places, listening to a nighttime chorus of frogs in the neighborhood marsh was an archetypal touchstone of childhood. Children would search for tadpoles just steps away from native Lady’s Tresses orchids. Yet year by year, the chorus became quieter and today only a few frogs and orchids remain. Is this the world we want our children to inherit? Do we want orchids to slip through our fingers and, eventually, to vanish?

For biologists Philip Seaton and Lawrence W. Zettler—and the intrepid orchid defenders they introduce in their new book, Saving Orchids—the answer is no. Seaton and Zettler have traveled the world over the past three decades to study orchids and their latest book is a culmination of stories about the people dedicated to protecting these remarkable plants from extinction.

Here they discuss their newest work which serves as a gorgeously illustrated ode to the beauty and significance of orchids—and to those fighting to save these unique plants across the globe.

---

Orchids seem to be plants shrouded in mystery. They’re known for their beauty and diversity but have a reputation for being finicky when folks try to keep them alive in their homes and gardens. How much or how little is actually known about orchids?

Phil Seaton: The perception that all orchids are difficult to grow because they are impossibly exotic is a bit of a myth. Thirty years ago, people thought that moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) could only be grown in warm greenhouses. Today, they are the world’s most popular pot plant and can be seen growing on windowsills in homes around the globe. It’s true that many beautiful species do best in greenhouses, but many others make ideal garden plants or can be successfully grown on a windowsill. Of course, it depends where you live—plants that thrive outdoors in subtropical Florida are unlikely to survive the icy blast of an Illinois winter.

Lawrence W. Zettler: The answer to this question depends on who you ask. Many hobbyists know a great deal about orchid cultivation, care, and maintenance, spanning decades of experience. Some of these folks, however, keep their knowledge a secret whereas others are eager and willing to share what they know. There does seem to be a bit of a disconnect between orchid conservationists/scientists and hobbyists/growers—and both groups would probably benefit if they communicated with one another more often. Orchid societies in the US and UK invite speakers to monthly meetings that both Phil and I have attended, and this allows us to learn directly from many people from all walks of life. One goal we had in mind while writing our book was to bridge the communication gap and to connect more people who share the same passion for orchid conservation.   

Orchids have been coined as “the canaries in the coal mine” for the environments in which they live. Why is this?

PS: I suppose the real surprise is perhaps how rapidly climate change is already affecting some orchid populations. Their dependence for germination on specific mycorrhizal fungi, and the epiphytic lifestyle of the majority of tropical species, makes them especially vulnerable to climate change. The drying out of the soil can adversely affect the fungi that support terrestrial orchids. The drying out of tropical forests, particularly cloud forests, leads to the death of many delicate species that require constantly wet and humid conditions in order to thrive. Therefore, orchids are valuable bioindicators that can be used to monitor environmental health.

LWZ: The short answer is that most orchid species are adapted to specific environments that harbor a diverse array of other cohabiting organisms (such as insects, microbes, fungi, and woody plants), and orchids often depend on these other lifeforms for their own survival. Some orchids, for instance, rely on a single insect species for pollination; others require a specific fungus to germinate their seeds. If the insect or the fungus were to disappear because the environment changes, the orchid life cycle would abruptly end resulting in their disappearance in the landscape (hence, their being labeled an environmental “canary in the coal mine”). Other types of plants would follow suit, but they typically take longer to disappear compared to orchids. Subtle acute changes in the environment can adversely affect the biodiversity in orchid habitats even when we humans look out at the landscape and see no apparent changes at all. And let’s not forget that many orchids themselves are intrinsically vulnerable to subtle changes linked to climate (like rainfall and temperature). 

As climate change affects the biodiversity of our planet, many conservationists have focused their efforts on protecting the world’s orchids. Was there a particular method or story of conservation that surprised you most when writing this book?

PS: We have been humbled by the willingness of people working in orchid conservation to share their stories and images with us. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised by this as they are eager to communicate with a wider audience, but it has been a real journey of discovery as, one-by-one, orchid conservationists have shared their work with us. One story that surprised me most was probably learning how rapidly European terrestrial orchids can colonize what was previously agricultural land, a process that only takes about three to four years.

LWZ: Researching topics for this book has reinforced the notion that humans care about plants, not just animals. At face value, humans seem to respond to animals in need more than plants, perhaps because animals (especially mammals) are more like us evolutionarily. Animals respond quicker to the care we give them and by doing so, they have a fuzzy warm place in our hearts. But if you look closely at the people who get to know orchids—like the hobbyists who grow them for fun or students who are given an orchid to care for—something magical happens. Orchids have a way of locking into our mind, body, and soul once you get to know them. For example, my wife, a professor of psychology, has recently contracted “orchid fever.” A single orchid, whether on a windowsill or rooted in nature, will warm our hearts when it flowers each year. In Florida, where I grew up in the 1970s, I can still find the same orchid (Epidendrum magnoliae) growing in my backyard each time I visit. Seeing it flower is almost like visiting an old friend. 

Do you have a favorite species of orchid? If so, why?

PS: There is nothing like walking into my greenhouse on a frosty morning in the depths of winter and being confronted by long arching sprays of the magenta flowers of Laelia anceps, or the crystalline white flowers of Coelogyne cristata. There are also many lovely varieties of the Mexican L. anceps, a culturally important flower that is used to decorate altars for the Day of the Dead in November (although, for me, it begins flowering just before Christmas). C. cristata hails from the lower Himalayas and can soon make a large specimen plant. In Victorian times, sprays of the flowers of C. cristata were often used in wedding bouquets. Both species are easy to grow under cool conditions and can also be successfully grown indoors as windowsill orchids.

LWZ: As previously mentioned, my old friend, Epidendrum magnoliae, has that special distinction. It’s not especially showy and it is easily overlooked on the oak tree limb where it grows. But on a warm humid night, it freshens the air with a sweet-smelling, subtle fragrance that makes up for its lack of color, reminding me of my childhood.

In Cuba, the Chocolate Orchid (Encyclia phoenicea) is showier and, yes, smells just like chocolate (I challenge anyone to be blindfolded and distinguish the flower scent from a candy bar—good luck). I recommend taking along real chocolate candy into the field to curb the onset of appetite.   

As for the loveliest orchid to the eye, there are so many to choose from, but I still have a hard time believing that the beauty of the Queen of Sheeba orchid (Thelymitra speciosa) native to SW Australia is real. It’s a sight that must be seen to be believed, and I would compare the visual experience to a shirt someone might wear at a rock concert in the 1960s (Woodstock, perhaps).

And so, I guess I have three favorites—one dear to my heart, one dear to my sense of smell, and one that visually has no equal. 

What do you hope is the biggest message readers will be left with after reading your book?

PS: That conservation works. And that there are many dedicated individuals around the world who are working to preserve orchids in their natural habitats. Conservation is for everyone, and community involvement is the key to success—as is education, especially of young people. All too often schoolchildren are confined to the classroom and have little exposure to the natural world. If they were introduced to the wonders of nature at an early age, then they would be more likely to value the conservation of the world’s incredible biodiversity.

LWZ: Humans and nature are at a crossroads. Humans need the natural world, and especially plants, to survive. Yet, with each passing day, the gap between humans and biological diversity seems to be widening. We need more young people to get connected but I’m worried that our reliance on technology, coupled with habitat destruction, is exacerbating this divide. We need to immerse ourselves more in nature like our ancestors so that we appreciate and understand nature’s remarkable beauty. More people today, especially today’s youth, seem to be afraid of what they don’t understand, and maybe that’s because they are becoming less connected to the natural world than previous generations. In urban areas, we seem to be conditioned to keeping nature “in check” through controlled artificial settings.

Making matters worse is the idea that all green plants look alike, also known as “plant blindness.” Orchids stand out when they bloom, forcing us to take note. But because orchids are the first plants to disappear (“canaries in the coal mine”), they serve as an early warning system of impending changes on the horizon, giving scientists time to act before the damage becomes insurmountable. Orchids, therefore, serve as ambassadors for all plants in landscapes that might take longer to show signs of distress. We hope this book will galvanize this message and reach a wider audience. We can all do our part, exemplified by the stories written therein. We can turn things around. Conservation truly does work if you give nature a chance.

---

Philip Seaton is a retired biology lecturer and, until recently, managed a global orchid seed banking network on behalf of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He has authored, illustrated and coauthored a number of books about orchids and their cultivation.

Lawrence W. Zettler is professor of Biology at Illinois College and a Research Associate at the Chicago Botanic Garden. He has authored or coauthored over fifty peer-reviewed scientific publications and illustrated two books in color involving insects.

---

Saving Orchids is available on our website. Use the code UCPNEW at checkout to take 30% off.