30 September 2024
Orchid collection digitised! What interesting orchids have we uncovered?
As part of the Digitisation Project, our team has been working toward making our entire orchid collection available for global access.
We’ve hit an exciting new milestone at Kew on our multimillion-pound Digitisation Project having imaged our entire orchid collection, helping soon make it accessible to everyone around the world, for free!
Our orchid collection - one of the largest and most diverse on the planet - boasts over 190,000 specimens, from the rarest blooms hidden in remote jungles to species with the most incredible adaptations found in nature.
For the first time ever, these wonders will soon be just a click away for researchers, orchid enthusiasts, and curious minds around the globe.
Digitising our collection involves more than just taking photographs - it is about capturing the intricate details of each specimen, preserving historical data (including notes stored with the specimen), and making all this information available online.
While our digitisation process is still ongoing with transcription and quality assurances – meaning some of the specimens won’t be ready to access on our Data Portal just yet - we are excited to share some of the most fascinating orchid specimens that we have uncovered over the years:
1. The rare Paphiopedilum rothschildianum (Rothschild's Slipper Orchid)
One of the rarest orchids in the world, Rothschild’s Slipper Orchid is a true gem in our collection. Known for its large, striking flowers with dark red stripes set against a yellow backdrop, this orchid is native to the rainforests of Mount Kinabalu in Borneo.
The image we captured reveal the intricate patterns of the flowers, which are crucial for research into the plant’s morphology and ecological preferences.
2. Charles Darwin’s Chloraea magellanica specimen (Magellan's Orchid)
This species was collected by none other than Charles Darwin himself during his legendary voyage on the HMS Beagle. In 1834, Darwin set foot on Chile’s Elisabeth Island (known natively as Isla Isabel), where, at the entrance of the Strait of Magellan, he came across this striking orchid.
Later described by Joseph Hooker, Chloraea magellanica boasts elegant white petals adorned with green and yellow markings. Our digitised images capture the delicate beauty and unique features of this orchid, providing a closer look at a piece of natural history that played a role in Darwin’s early botanical explorations.
3. The dramatic Dracula vampira (Vampire Orchid)
The mysterious Dracula vampira, known as the Vampire Orchid, is one of the most dramatic orchids we’ve digitised. Native to the cloud forests of Ecuador, this orchid lives up to its name with dark, almost black petals and a deep, red-veined interior that resembles the wings of a bat.
Our images reveal the fine details of its eerie flowers, from the hairy textures to the intricate patterns that attract its specialised pollinators - tiny flies that are drawn in by the scent of fungi. By making these detailed images accessible, we’re opening up new opportunities for research into the unique pollination strategies and evolution of this fascinating orchid.
4. The extinct Oeceoclades seychellarum (Seychelles Orchid)
Oeceoclades seychellarum, the Seychelles Orchid, tells a poignant story of loss and the fragility of island ecosystems. This rare orchid, once native to the Seychelles, is now sadly extinct. Known for its striking marbled leaves and small, delicate flowers with subtle purple veins, this species disappeared due to habitat loss and environmental changes.
Our digitised images capture the intricate beauty of this lost species, preserving it for future generations and providing a valuable resource for understanding the diversity that once thrived in the Seychelles. It underscores the importance of conservation efforts to protect the remaining unique flora of our planet, and the role that herbarium specimens play.
5. The stunning Dendrophylax fawcettii (Cayman Ghost Orchid)
The Cayman Ghost Orchid, Dendrophylax fawcettii, is a captivating and extremely rare species found only in the Cayman Islands. Like its relative, the better-known Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii), it is leafless, with delicate white flowers that seem to float in mid-air.
Our digitised images showcase the intricate, star-like shape of its flowers and the fine root structures that cling to its host trees. This species is critically endangered, making these images invaluable for researchers studying its unique habitat needs and those working on its conservation and protection.
6. The deceptive Ophrys apifera (Bee Orchid)
The Bee Orchid is a master of mimicry—its flowers mimic the appearance of a female bee to attract male bees for pollination. By examining the subtle differences between specimens from different regions, researchers can gain deeper insights into the evolutionary biology and ecological strategies of this remarkable plant.
7. Dr Kirk’s Disa hircicornis (Goat-Horned Orchid)
The story of Disa hircicornis, the Goat-Horned Orchid, is interwoven with the adventures of 19th-century exploration. This particular specimen was collected by Dr John Kirk, a Scottish botanist and physician who accompanied the renowned Dr David Livingstone during his years-long Zambezi expedition in Africa.
During this challenging journey, Kirk documented the rich flora of the region, and Disa hircicornis was one of the fascinating finds. Known for its distinctive, horn-like sepals and vibrant pink to purple flowers, this orchid thrives in the montane grasslands and rocky outcrops of East Africa.
Our digitised images capture the unique floral structure and colours of this historic specimen, offering a glimpse into the biodiversity encountered by explorers like Kirk, and Alfred Russell Wallace. Preserving this piece of botanical history not only honours Kirk’s contributions but also provides a valuable resource for those studying the evolution and adaptation of orchids in Africa’s diverse landscapes.
8. The last orchid digitised! Laelia callistoglossa (Beautiful-Lipped Laelia)
Laelia callistoglossa, also known as the Beautiful-Lipped Laelia, holds a special place in our digitisation journey as the very last orchid to be imaged as part of our Digitisation Project. This captivating species, belonging to the Cattleya alliance, is native to Brazil and is celebrated for its striking lavender-pink petals and a vibrant, frilled lip marked with deep purple veins.
The digitised images showcase the stunning details of its floral structure, which make it a favourite among orchid collectors and enthusiasts.
As the final orchid to be digitised, Laelia callistoglossa symbolises the culmination of our efforts to make Kew's vast orchid collection accessible to the world.
Each image represents a step towards unlocking the mysteries of orchids for researchers, horticulturists, and anyone with a passion for these incredible plants. By sharing this exquisite orchid, we invite you to explore the rich diversity of our newly digitised collection and to delve deeper into the fascinating world of orchids.
What’s Next? Check out our new Data Portal
These are just a few highlights from one of the plant families we’ve digitised so far. Each image represents a wealth of knowledge, from taxonomic details to ecological insights, and serves as a testament to the incredible diversity of orchids. But this is just the beginning!
Very soon - once the remaining specimens are transcribed and decisions made on how locality data for endangered or CITES species should be presented - the entire orchid collection will join the rest of our fully digitised specimens and will be available on our new Data Portal, providing unprecedented access to our specimens.
Researchers, students, orchid enthusiasts, and anyone with a passion for the natural world will be able to explore the rich diversity of orchids like never before.
Check out our new Data Portal, which currently hosts almost three million of our herbarium and fungarium specimens, with another five million to join within the coming months.
Acknowledgments
The digitisation of our collections and the online portal have been part-funded by Defra, appeal supporters, private philanthropists, Fujifilm Electronic Imaging Europe GmbH, The HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust, and the first Chairman of Kew’s Board of Trustees, Lord John Eccles.
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