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Saturday, February 15, 2025

Title: Urban Conservation: How Two Female Scientists in Singapore Are Protecting Endangered Tropical Orchids with City Trees

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The Monkey-Face Orchid, resembling a playful monkey, draws visitors to Singapore’s National Orchid Garden, home to 1,500 species. Curator Lee Khee highlights the beauty of orchids while addressing the threats they face from habitat loss and poaching. Conservation efforts include cultivating new hybrids and reintroducing orchids into their natural habitats. Additionally, orchids symbolize diplomacy in Singapore, with unique hybrids created in honor of state guests, reflecting the nation’s commitment to preserving these remarkable flowers.

The Monkey-Face Orchid, with its unique triangular structure formed by three light brown petals, captivates many visitors who mistake it for a playful monkey peering from the foliage. Curator Lee Khee, who has dedicated forty years to the world of orchids, beams with pride as she guides guests through the National Orchid Garden in Singapore.

Home to the largest collection of orchids globally, the garden boasts around 1,500 species, lovingly maintained by Lee Khee and her team. The vibrant display is a feast for the eyes, showcasing an array of colors and forms. Which flower reigns supreme in this verdant paradise? Is it the palm-sized purple blooms or the delicate violet ones adorned with soft pink stripes? Round or elongated petals, spotted or shimmering in shades of yellow-orange, or pure white—each flower has its charm.

A Fragrant Wonder for One Day

In search of her current favorite, Khee navigates the winding trails of this hilly orchid sanctuary. Soon, she encounters the Dove Orchid, a treasure from Singapore’s rainforests. With its ethereal white petals resembling a dove in flight, this orchid releases its sweet fragrance for just one day after blooming.

Orchids grace homes, hotels, offices, and yoga studios, with one in three houseplants in Germany being an orchid, amounting to eleven million sold annually. Despite their popularity, it’s shocking to think that most wild orchids face the threat of extinction.

Due to urban expansion, agriculture, and logging, their natural habitats are dwindling. Climate change poses an additional risk, causing orchids to either drown from excessive rainfall or suffer from drought. Disruption in blooming times can prevent pollinating insects from performing their vital role, as orchids rely entirely on these creatures for the dispersal of their sticky pollen. This crisis affects not only the wild species in tropical and subtropical regions but also native orchids closer to home.

The High Price of Rare Orchids

Lee Khee expresses her concerns about poachers who scour forests for rare orchid species to sell to affluent collectors. Frustration fills her voice as she recounts how farmers sometimes resort to harvesting orchids from nearby rainforests to supplement their income, offering them for sale at roadside stands. “Collectors are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars for exceptionally rare orchids, regardless of conservation efforts or legalities,” she states, her demeanor shifting from cheerful to serious.

For over three decades, teams from the Singapore Botanical Garden have been working tirelessly to protect orchids from the forests and wetlands of Southeast Asia. Molecular biologist Gillian Khew explains this dedication while showcasing her lab, filled with glass flasks containing tiny orchids thriving on shaking boards. In a nearby room, various plants flourish under UV lamps, meticulously cared for in sterile conditions.

Whenever feasible, the team collects seeds from the wild, nurturing them in a nutrient-rich medium derived from bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, and coconut water. In nature, a specific fungus is essential for providing nutrients, without which orchids cannot germinate.

Excitingly, Khew shares stories of discovering entirely new species during their expeditions, like the tiny white-flowering Nervilia singaporensis, found beneath a pile of leaves in a reforested area. Her passion for exploration lights up her face as she recounts the thrill of uncovering these botanical treasures.

These efforts extend beyond seed banks and the Botanical Garden’s gardens; if the original habitat still exists, specimens are reintroduced there after propagation. When that’s not an option, Singapore finds beauty in the ordinary—rare orchids are now thriving on city trees in parks and along the streets.

Those who know where to look can spot these aerial roots hanging from lush green leaves overhead while strolling through the city. Occasionally, splashes of color from blooming orchids brighten the landscape. “Not every orchid can endure urban air, but every success adds to the preservation of a species,” Khew expresses with satisfaction.

Orchid enthusiasts are also stepping up to protect rare species. Norbert Dank, a member of the German Orchid Society, has been collecting orchids from the cloud forests of South America since he was 14. He purchases from certified breeders, ensuring that many of his collection’s specimens have been cultivated in Germany for decades. By propagating these plants and sharing them with fellow enthusiasts, he helps prevent the depletion of natural populations.

The Art of Orchid Cultivation

In Singapore, experts not only work to conserve endangered orchids but also engage in breeding entirely new species, known as hybrids. “Despite my nearly forty years of experience, it remains a gamble,” Khee admits, her admiration for nature and enthusiasm for her work ever-present.

The aim is to develop resilient, heat-tolerant varieties that produce vibrant flowers. The journey begins by selecting the desired colors and pairing a mother and father plant. “I typically choose the one with the traits I prioritize as the mother,” she explains, highlighting the importance of maternal plants in orchid cultivation.

Pollination is a meticulous process done by hand, and if the initial results are unsatisfactory, the offspring may be crossed with another plant of the desired color. Achieving specific hues can require multiple breeding rounds; for instance, producing a milk chocolate-brown flower from yellow and brown parent plants took nearly fifteen years.

Patience is crucial in orchid cultivation, whether working with seeds from nature or cultivated ones. After about two years, a delicate seedling emerges, followed by another three to four years of care until the orchid blooms for the first time.

Khee fondly recalls the joy of witnessing her first self-bred flower bloom after a six-year wait. “The moment my orchid opened its petals was incredibly special,” she reminisces, cherishing the memory of returning from parental leave to find her creation in full bloom—a true gift from nature.

Orchids as Symbols of Diplomacy

In Singapore, orchids also serve diplomatic purposes. Special state guests are honored with a unique hybrid named in their honor, showcasing the nation’s commitment to preserving these exquisite flowers while fostering international relations.

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