Ghost orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)

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Illustration of Dendrophylax lindenii by Kelly Leahy Radding

Species: Dendrophylax lindenii
Common Name: Ghost orchid
Status: Endangered, Preservation of Native
Flora of Florida Act
Range: Florida, United States and Cuba

Map of east Asia illustrating the range of Dendrophylax lindenii

Artist: Kelly Leahy-Radding
Artist Home Country: United States
Medium: Watercolor, body color on vellum

Made famous in the book The Orchid Thief,
the ghost orchid of the Everglades is a difficult plant to notice when not in flower. It has no leaves and uses its roots to collect both water and sunlight.



A specimen of Ghost orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii) from the museum's herbarium collection:

National Herbarium preserved specimen of Dendrophylax lindenii