Ghost Orchid Faces Extinction: Federal Protection Proposed

[{"selector":"#anim-c1f72a73-b25d-416b-b2a7-32c2d68f3e07","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7c19b293-e493-45d8-b216-c768e332cc84","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.55696%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d38f12a-77a7-45c3-957a-385e05179e6c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-90c0ca66-6657-4837-a541-fe1b8ca48947","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.3301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The rare ghost orchid may finally get federal protection after decades of decline, with fewer than 1,000 plants left in the US. Govind Tekale

Why are these leafless plants called "ghost orchids"? They grow high on trees, making their white blossoms appear to float in mid-air like apparitions.

[{"selector":"#anim-31b759eb-6885-4af8-abd4-c01a0bbf9345","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3fdfd54c-8624-4ea9-a625-f77bfd252539","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cbce8dab-f6b3-4154-8611-c0cdf0bb8588","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01da2f5e-5951-4fd8-915c-848a1874d302","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c02d4381-37cb-4377-8146-145c02d1acc6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: rudywilms.com (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

These mysterious flowers have lost over 90% of their global population and up to half of Florida's plants - pushing them to the brink of extinction.

[{"selector":"#anim-735528b4-1f79-4714-9c9e-1b4a5538d165","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ac32563b-fe69-4941-833b-c353053d41f5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.724%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-401f87e1-3b2f-425e-af50-f9e77561b1f7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00cfdb93-26ba-466d-9f40-f91079bfdd15","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -111.1955%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-766ebb06-ee7f-4901-87bf-adc7bb3d2b00","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: rudywilms.com (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Poachers remain the biggest threat - in 2022, two people were caught stealing these rare plants from a Florida state park.

[{"selector":"#anim-4e300855-5ec7-4e18-bd42-f274fcf39505","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e62657c-1039-49c4-83c3-f0876aea8af6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.58885%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45919d9d-bb01-4a51-90db-f72c22838a6c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-efa749b3-6076-40b3-b4ec-11491ae70eb0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.60759%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1c5f967-4142-4153-a973-d9c0b3a61d12","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: rudywilms.com (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The orchid grows only in two places on Earth: southwestern Florida's swamps and western Cuba, making it exceptionally vulnerable.

[{"selector":"#anim-5394b7b8-518a-48db-bf36-6e72488143ef","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fee81d61-2d79-4e22-a412-de5381e637ce","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.04866%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aad7f898-d0f7-4fad-99a7-c6ad425e7be4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f91ffb9-c732-4f5f-82e8-e62c8e40a0f5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60dc3cd6-3d73-4999-a455-ce4bcf32cb0b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: NC Orchid (CC BY-NC 2.0)

What happens when hurricanes hit orchid habitat? Recent storms have devastated populations by toppling host trees that these plants need to survive.

[{"selector":"#anim-4f48b8ae-5948-42a5-b5df-41a588b4838d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b3c36ec0-5628-4944-9efb-b2cc29b5ef76","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d45ed8b-6b5f-41eb-9a1f-863d71734094","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8871985c-872f-41dc-83a1-5ccf302765b9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-067c1ea3-37b2-4680-a47d-7577fd05d865","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: rudywilms.com (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Three conservation groups sued the government to force action, leading to the June 2025 endangered species proposal.

[{"selector":"#anim-07182d77-1706-486f-985c-23a597aae8d3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6b86c5e9-da29-4eaa-bacd-fb8a04043b33","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.04866%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8878c974-3ad1-4f80-8b74-42d54b4f0908","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf27ddd2-72b8-4a19-9b0f-81d79b643725","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f98b2668-2309-42de-ab8a-2772f232ac71","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: BigCypressNPS (PDM 1.0)

While the government proposed endangered status, they refused to designate "critical habitat" - a decision that worries some experts.

[{"selector":"#anim-d706baf2-9f76-4f85-9e40-afd324e220e7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e09da6a2-5a90-4f35-9221-a21e595c3c2d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4ba7278-f31a-4dd8-9559-ae781cd84c93","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e74d622-0e96-4a7a-929a-9de8a7a06b53","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b22c4498-4016-4447-9c1c-e22588545c51","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: rudywilms.com (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

"This rare and uniquely beautiful species has captivated outdoor explorers and botanists for countless generations," said conservation director Melissa Abdo.

[{"selector":"#anim-cbff4af3-a3df-49d0-bfbc-49cd1a4d0070","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3cae39db-df97-43f7-a13f-cff645e88b8b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.36915%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99f09d93-3b1b-4839-95dc-8aa90f24e151","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-69f6e829-4278-4303-ad00-1542346a817e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-572b8f5c-f888-45f1-94b1-9217f8f26e89","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: rudywilms.com (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Want to help? The public has until August 4, 2025 to submit comments supporting protection for this iconic Florida flower.

[{"selector":"#anim-fcdf15f3-09de-4d1a-a836-f68f23c8b710","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd57f0d7-fbfa-453e-84c8-f158c1f15d09","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9774e13-55ee-4824-8bbd-d74a2835660e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-662c8754-e311-4a7b-aeb7-8dc23b17b671","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-719a504c-f63d-4aec-9ef8-48d6ca568efb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Sassholes (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-ec5c49fc-3aa4-446c-bbcb-d3d72d858222","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77d5f80d-3094-41bb-93ae-12ef258f3854","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-797a9822-cc9e-4f99-b76e-0961bd1c2b43","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0bfec64-47d6-40d7-bc4a-be44b54dc2eb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cab95b35-cf8c-4d56-bb4a-8332e812701b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.2381%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Point Reyes Rezones 16,000 Acres, 11 Ranchers Exit, Tule Elk Thrive Learn more