Scientific Name
Phalaenopsis spp.
Flowering Season
Depend on species
Reproduction
Pollinated by insects. Seeds dispersed by wind.
Fun Facts
Most moth orchids are epiphytes found in forests, growing on tree trunks and branches without depleting water and nutrients from the host plants. They have aerial roots along the stem.
Moth orchids are so called because their flowers are shaped like moths in flight. The shape differs among species as they evolve to attract specific pollinators.
Origins
Threats & Conservation
Threats & Conservation
Urbanisation & Infrastructure
Overexploitation of Biological Resources
Human Disturbance & Ecosystem Disruption
Moth orchids in the wild are under threat, as they are cleared because of land-use change or harvested for horticulture and traditional medicine. As some orchids have developed close or even exclusive relationships with specific species of pollinators, the decline of orchids will also jeopardise certain insects.
IUCN Red List
3 species are Critically Endangered, 2 species are Endangered, 1 species is Vulnerable and 1 species is Data Deficient.
CITES
About 87 species are listed in Appendix II
Conservation Regulations
Regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong, and all wild orchids are protected by the Forestry Regulations under the Forests and Countryside Ordinance (Cap. 96)
