Officials seek endangered-species status for ghost orchid
By Sherrilyn Cabrera
June 11, 2025 at 11:47 AM EDT
Federal wildlife officials are seeking endangered-species status for one of Florida's most famous flowers.
The ghost orchid gets its name from its delicate, white and often translucent flowers that appear to hover in the air.
It's found mostly in southwestern Florida wetlands — and in western Cuba.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the ghost orchid population has declined to fewer than one-thousand plants in the United States.
And less than half of those are mature enough to reproduce.
Poaching is the main threat to the orchid, but wetlands loss has also put it at risk.
READ MORE: Legal victory speeds protection decision for rare ghost orchid
This is a News In Brief report. Visit WLRN News for in-depth reporting from South Florida and Florida news.
The ghost orchid gets its name from its delicate, white and often translucent flowers that appear to hover in the air.
It's found mostly in southwestern Florida wetlands — and in western Cuba.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the ghost orchid population has declined to fewer than one-thousand plants in the United States.
And less than half of those are mature enough to reproduce.
Poaching is the main threat to the orchid, but wetlands loss has also put it at risk.
READ MORE: Legal victory speeds protection decision for rare ghost orchid
This is a News In Brief report. Visit WLRN News for in-depth reporting from South Florida and Florida news.