This Is The Ghost Orchid, And Here’s Why People Are Pushing To Get The Flower Federally Protected
Let’s try to imagine, for just a moment, a world without flowers. Nature would be a lot less colorful, that’s for sure. It may not be immediately apparent, but flowers are an essential part of our daily lives.
We see them everywhere, whether it’s a patch of yellow dandelions in an overgrown, grassy field or the bright bulbs of tulips in a neighbor’s garden.
Bouquets of blossoms are given out on Mother’s Day and anniversaries and are specially featured at weddings.
We humans are so captivated by flowers that we have assigned special meanings to them. For example, red roses signify romantic love, white carnations symbolize purity and innocence, and so on and so forth.
Our love for beautiful things is why significant measures are being considered to protect the endangered ghost orchid.
The spooky-sounding orchid species grow in the swampy areas of Southern Florida and can also be found in Cuba.
According to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Services, the ghost orchid may be able to receive proper protection under the Endangered Species Act. A decision on that will be reached by January 2023.
The plant’s biggest threat is the hurricanes that frequently plague the state of Florida. Right behind these catastrophic tropical storms are poaching and loss of habitat. The climate change crisis is worsening the impact of hurricanes, causing the destruction of many ghost orchids.
The National Parks Conservation Association states that the orchid population has decreased by more than 90 percent.
ondrejprosicky stock.adobe.com – pictured above is a ghost orchid
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
Furthermore, it has been estimated that there are only 1,500 orchid plants remaining in Florida in early 2022.
“The ghost orchid is a testament to how biodiversity can have a monumental impact on our collective spirit and imagination,” said Elise Bennett, who is the deputy Florida director and attorney at the Center for Biological Discovery.
“Its rare and cryptic beauty has captivated authors, photographers, and filmmakers alike. I really hope federal officials make haste and protect this gorgeous specter of our swamps before it’s too late,” continued Elise.
Unfortunately, experts do not yet know the impact that Hurricane Ian had on ghost orchids in Florida and Cuba.
But conservation organizations are working tirelessly to make sure that no more harm will come to the exquisite flower.
If true crime defines your free time, this is for you: join Chip Chick’s True Crime Tribe
Loaded Baked Potato Soup Is A Great Recipe To Try When The Temperature Starts To Really Drop
More About:News
Read This Next
