US, Cuba researchers collaborate on ghost orchid study

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

US, Cuba researchers collaborate on ghost orchid study

The Associated Press

IMMOKALEE, Fla. —

The diplomatic thaw with Cuba has led to a new collaboration with scientists in that country to study the ghost orchid, one of the world's rarest flowers, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Ernesto Mujica of Cuba's Ministry of Science ECOVIDA Research Center has joined researchers from Illinois College and the University of Florida in the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge to study ghost orchids, the delicate blooms that star in the book "The Orchid Thief" and the movie "Adaptation."

Mujica's participation "would not have been possible without years of persistence and the recent, history-making improvements in U.S. relations with Cuba," said Tom MacKenzie, a spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's southeast region.

The five-decade-plus Cuba trade embargo and travel restrictions to the island inhibited orchid researchers in both countries from sharing data, though a group of Illinois College researchers and students were able to visit Cuba's Guanahacabibes National Park in 2013.





Read more: http://www.bnd.com/news/state/illinois/article29336323.html#storylink=cpy

---

[center][/center]

[passiveporcupine]

1. What a gorgeous flower

I used to have calypso orchids here in my forest, but haven't seen them for years. Of course, I can no longer hike up the steep hills like I used to.



But I'd really love to have ghost orchids here too. I have to settle for trillium and checker lilies.

These are my checker lilies.

[montana_hazeleyes]

2. Your flowers are gorgeous, passiveporcupine.

I find the checker lilies especially interesting. I don't believe I have ever seen them before.

[passiveporcupine]

3. I'd never seen them before moving here.

They grow in the riparian zone bordering my yard, along my creek, but only in one spot, so I don't know if they were started by humans, or naturally. They are hard to see among the rocks. I have to deliberately go looking for them in spring. I've never seen them hiking the mountains around me, so I think someone started them here. I really do love them though. They are so subtle and delicate. The photo (from google) is almost twice life size.

[montana_hazeleyes]

4. So interesting!

Thanks for the post. I will look them up to learn more about them for sure.

[passiveporcupine]

5. They are also called chocolate lilies

Wiki has some info on them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritillaria_affinis

This is something I never knew about them:

The roots or bulbs cooked make palatable and nutritious food.

I'm not digging mine up to eat them. They are one of my treasures out here. Like the trillium and calypso orchid.

[montana_hazeleyes]

6. Thank you.

I am going to enjoy learning more about them.