Selected Species - by Peter Taylor

EPIDENDRUM ilense provides an interesting example of ex-situ conservation, a practice all species enthusiasts engage as habitats become more fragmented and at threat.

The ideal, of course, is effective in-situ conservation of orchid species by protecting native species habitats so that plants may enjoy their optimum environment with the natural insect or bird pollinator. Unfortunately, deforestation to accommodate agricultural and pastoral interests and at times rapacious over-collection of 'desirable' species (I understand that the site of the first collection of Phragmipedium kovachii in Peru, sup-posedly 'secret' and 'protected' has been stripped of plants), have placed many orchid species at threat or even the brink of extinction.

In the Annals of Missouri Botanic Garden, (Vol. 78; 2; 1991), Calway Dodson and A. H. Gentry published an article named 'Biological Extinction in Western Ecuador'. In that they stated "Forests of Western Ecuador (are) cited as one of the most severely threatened areas on earth in terms of biological extinction as a result of deforestation and other activities of humans.... only small forest remnant... massive biological extinction."
One of the authors of the above, Calway Dodson, discovered the selected species for this month, Epidendrum ilense, in Ecuador in 1971. The discovery accounts vary, but only a few (between three and six) plants of an unknown species were found by Dodson's collection party on fallen trees in an area to be bulldozed for agriculture. The plants were divided between the Mary Selby Botanical Gardens in Florida and Kew and a propagation programme was gradually developed. Epidendrum ilense had arrived!

The New York Times of March 25, 1990 reported that Dodson returned to the collection site six months later to find that ‘not only was the original patch of forest now a corn field, much more forest had already been cut. I found no more plants at that time, or the succeeding trip, or ever again..... Epidendrum ilense apparently became extinct in the wild without even the courtesy of being listed as an endangered species.’

Since then there have been reports of other small populations of Epidendrum ilense but as these areas are favoured for banana and palm plantations the chances of this desirable species being conserved in-situ seem remote. Perhaps the only plants to be found within a few years will be in people's orchid houses.

So, after those rather depressing words, what of the species? Epidendrum ilense is a medium sized plant with a reed-like stem and thin leaves. My plant has stems of about 40cm in height. It flowers freely throughout the year from a thin, wire-like inflorescence from the apex of the stem. It has a pleasing habit of blooming off old spikes (do NOT cut them off) and has a cluster of between three and seven very showy blossoms, which, as the accompanying photo illustrates, have deeply fimbriated lips.

The small sepals and petals on my plant are light brown, but the arresting feature of the flower is undoubtedly the fringed lip.

Epidendrum ilense grows best (in my experience at least) in light shade with good air circulation. An open shade house in summer covered by two layers of 50% shade cloth seems to meet its needs. The species likes high humidity and loves misting in early morning and late afternoon in summer. Watering should be approached cautiously, especially in winter - plants should be allowed to become dry in their pots before watering and feeding.

Jay Pfhal, on his excellent internet site of species, states that the species is a hot-growing epiphyte - however, I grow it successfully (until now) with a winter minimum of about 7°C, with very careful attention to not overwatering in winter. A variety of fertilisers, both organic and inorganic are used at approximately 1/4 recommended strength in summer only. I am tempted, when repotting, to use about 1/2 bark and 1/2 coconut chips, but maybe the coconut will retain too much moisture.

The tragedy of endemic orchid species is clear - as habitats are destroyed for agriculture, pasture, logging or simply to allow for rapidly expanding small-scale farming populations, orchids will become extinct in their natural environments. Epidendrum ilense is just one example of successful ex-situ cultivation and hence conservation of a very beautiful plant.        

Peter Taylor Port Macquarie, NSW

© Peter Taylor and Australian Orchid Council Inc 2007

Originally published in "Orchids Australia" December 2007.