A ghost orchid in bloom in Big Cypress National Preserve/Tony Pernas

Concern is growing for the future of a unique orchid that is a favorite of poachers after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to meet a deadline for deciding whether the flower needed Endangered Species Act protection.

The agency had been expected to decide by January 24 whether to list the plant either as threatened or endangered, but the date came and passed without a finding.

According to the Center for Biological Diversity, "[T]his delay comes as two people allegedly took a ghost orchid, and other rare orchids and air plants, from Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park late last year. In an incident report, law-enforcement officials described finding a machete and a bag filled with more than 30 rare and endangered plants. The poaching incident highlights why the famed and highly imperiled ghost orchid urgently needs to be protected under the federal Endangered Species Act."

The orchid is perhaps the rarest of the 30 species of orchids in Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida. The orchid thrives in humid environments, as it draws moisture from the air. 

According to the National Park Service, "[T]he ghost orchid's tangled mass of green roots clings tightly to the trunks of various tree species, including cypress, pond apple, and maple, and is visible year-round. It is distinguished from other species of orchid by the presence of thin white markings dotting its roots. In June and July, at the peak of mosquito season, the ghost orchid blooms. At night, it is pollinated by the sphinx moth, whose long tongue or proboscis allows it to receive a sweet reward of nectar from the flower that is not easily reached by other insects."

George Gann, executive director at The Institute for Regional Conservation, said the listing status of the ghost orchid "is a most urgent matter that must not be pushed down the road. We are deeply concerned about the growing impacts of poaching on ghost orchids and other rare plants in Florida, which make heighted protections imperative. Poaching has been identified as a key threat to the ghost orchid at the Fakahatchee, in Big Cypress National Preserve, and throughout South Florida.”

“This disastrous federal delay comes as the ghost orchid struggles to survive human greed and a multitude of other threats,” added Elise Bennett, deputy Florida director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Endangered Species Act protection is crucial to give this hauntingly beautiful orchid a fighting chance at beating extinction. For one thing, it would impose stronger penalties for poachers. The Fish and Wildlife Service’s foot-dragging is depriving the orchid of crucial protection.”

Melissa Abdo, Ph.D., Sun Coast regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association, said the "heartbreaking poaching incident makes one thing clear: Existing protections for ghost orchids are not enough to keep them safe from harm, and we need action now. This tragic event, that happened inside a protected natural area no less, is a stark reminder of the threats facing nearly extinct ghost orchids and underscores the urgent need for Endangered Species Act protections. Only then will we have the tools to save this iconic species.”

Following a petition filed by The Institute for Regional Conservation, the Center for Biological Diversity and the National Parks Conservation Association, the Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the rare native orchid may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. The agency initiated a status review to inform a final decision, which the agency was legally required to make last week, the conservation groups said.

The orchid is one of the most famous flowers in Florida, but its population has declined by more than 90 percent globally. Only an estimated 1,500 ghost orchid plants remain in Florida, and less than half are known to be mature enough to reproduce. Florida populations of ghost orchid have declined by up to 50 percent, according to the groups.

The best available science shows that the ghost orchid is at risk of extinction from multiple threats, including poaching, habitat loss and degradation, and the climate crisis.

The ghost orchid’s current limited range includes the Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, and additional conservation and tribal areas in Collier, Hendry and possibly Lee counties. It is also found in Cuba.