Cape Orchids: More than meets the eye

Orchids have a reputation for being exotic, delicate and difficult to grow. But the Cape has its own fascinating orchid story, many of which grow on the ground, often with underground storage structures that help them survive the seasonal conditions of the Cape.

The Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden (SUBG) has made orchids one of its conservation priorities, alongside bulbs. Both groups contain a high number of threatened species in the Cape Floristic Region and can be conserved in relatively small spaces. The Garden’s collection includes a number of Cape orchids, including several species of Disa and Satyrium.

One spring-flowering example is Satyrium carneum, a Western Cape endemic with pink flowers. It is one of the few South African orchids known to be pollinated by birds, with sunbirds playing an important role in its pollination. Although currently listed as Least Concern, the species is increasingly affected by habitat loss.

Orchids also have an unusual relationship with the soil beneath them. Their tiny seeds contain very little stored food and rely on relationships with fungi to germinate and establish. This makes conserving and growing orchids more complicated than simply collecting and planting their seeds. At SUBG, this is one of the reasons the team has been developing orchid micropropagation techniques.

As spring unfolds, keep an eye out for the orchids and other small wonders in the Garden. Their flowers may be delicate, but behind them is a fascinating story of specialised pollination, underground survival and conservation. Keep an eye out for the Satyrium carneum in our garden this month.