2018 ASHS Annual Conference

The Orchidaceae is recognized as one of the most species-rich plant families on earth and it is also recognized that many native orchids are threatened, for example, by over-harvesting, climate change, and habitat destruction. The North American Orchid Conservation Center (NAOCC) has been established to conserve the genetic diversity of native orchids in the U.S. and Canada, with a long-term goal of using an ecological approach to conserve native orchids globally. A pillar of the NAOCC model for conservation is propagation of native orchids from seed using appropriate mycorrhizal fungi. Horticulture is envisioned to play an important role in the effort to conserve native orchids. Many native orchids have the potential to be used in horticulture and successful propagation in formal and informal garden settings will result in the establishment of native orchid populations in support of efforts to restore species across the U.S. and Canada. The application of ecological principles to orchid conservation will also raise awareness of the importance of orchid-fungal interactions – an essential component of native orchid ecology.