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Orchid

The entire orchid family (Orchidaceae), including all U.S. native orchids, was listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in 1975. Several orchids are native to the United States. “Slipper orchids,” for instance, belong to the genus Cypripedium and occur throughout the United States, including Alaska!

Pink Lady’s Slipper orchid, Cypripedium acaule, has a large showy flower with a distinctive appearance: It has two-fused petals that form a large pouch or labellum that resembles a slipper. This shape is particularly suited for its pollinator, burly insects such as the bumblebee. The plant, which flowers from May to July, grows up to fifteen inches high, relies on large round burly insects, like bumblebees, for pollination. Bumblebees are attracted to the bright color and sweet scent of the flower, which lures the bumblebee into the “slipper” with the promise of sweet nectar only to find that the Pink Lady’s Slipper does not produce any nectar. As the bee attempts to leave, it is forced to exit by going underneath the stigma, where pollen from another flower is dropped off and new pollen is picked up on its fuzzy body on the way out of the flower. Once the flower is pollinated, the petals will droop, closing the entrance to the flower and preventing any other bees from entering. This unique pollinator system is similar throughout the genus.

All orchids are valued for their appearance and for their use as medicine. Orchids are commonly available as houseplants – sold in stores throughout the United States. Wild plant material is sometimes desirable to maintain distinctive traits in cultivation. But most of the plants sold in stores are not taken from the wild.

Native Americans and early settlers dug and dried the root for use as a tranquilizer or sedative. Lady slipper derivatives can be purchased in health food stores in capsule form to calm nerves, ease tension, and stress. It is also believed to help with depression, recurring headaches and hyperactivity in children.

Pink Lady’s Slipper has a lifespan of 30 to 50 years and, as with many other orchids, is naturally rare due to its specialized soil and pollination requirements. Collection and loss of habitat have reduced the numbers of the Pink Lady’s Slipper making it an endangered plant in some locations. Orchids have varying levels of rarity and protection throughout the United States. It is illegal to dig or pick the flower on all federal land. In addition, our native orchids are protected under CITES.

Orchids and CITES

To ensure that international orchid trade is not detrimental to the survival of wild populations, the entire orchid family (Orchidaceae), including all U.S. native orchids, was listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix II in 1975. Today, several orchid species and two large genera (Phragmipedium and Paphiopedilum) are listed in Appendix I, while the vast majority of orchids remain listed in Appendix II of CITES.

CITES Parties also recognize that, in general, artificial propagation of plants should be encouraged to reduce collection pressure on wild populations. Special provisions exist for trade in plants of artificially propagated Appendix-II orchids. In addition, hybrids of certain Appendix-II orchids (i.e., Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis and Vanda) that meet specific requirements are exempt from CITES regulations.