US scientists restoring rare ghost orchids
Have you ever heard of the ghost orchids? Well, they are considered as the rarest plant in the United States. Over the past three years, scientists have been working hard to save them from extinction.
Researchers from the University of Florida are growing ghost orchids from genetically diverse seeds in their lab. They collect the seeds of the plant from the Florida wetlands and then transfer them into their own greenhouse.
After the plants have grown for a few years, the scientists take the species back into their natural habitat. It seems their efforts have paid off. About 70 out of the 80 orchids planted have survived and are vigorously growing.
The ghost orchid was first discovered in 1844 and has only been spotted in three places including Cuba, the Bahamas and the Florida Everglades.
It is now believed to be extinct everywhere except for Florida with an estimated 2,000 of them remaining in the wild. The main threats to the species are poaching, habitat loss and illegal collection.
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