Theresia Sufa, Bogor, West Java – Dendrobium capra, a species of green orchid endemic to East Java known locally as anggrek larat hijau (green larat orchid), is facing the threat of extinction, a researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has warned.
Known for its yellowish green flowers, the epiphytic plant grows only on teak in the lowlands of East Java and can reach a height of around 40 centimeters. The orchid's wild population is declining primarily due to habitat loss, and researchers have never found the plant inside protected areas during field observations.
"We only found the green orchid on old growth teak trees in Bojonegoro regency. The orchid's natural habitat is also prone to logging activities. If teak trees are cut down, then the orchid will disappear as well," BRIN ecologist and ethnobiologist Trimanto said on April 17.
The green orchid is also prized for its commercial value. However, people often harvest the orchid without ensuring their future propagation, diminishing the plants' population in the wild.
Only 50 mature green orchids reportedly exist in their natural habitat, and the species is designated "endangered" on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
Trimanto said some efforts at conservation had been made to save the green orchid, such as by registering the plant as part of the ex situ collection of East Java's Purwodadi Botanical Garden.
"We also continue to monitor flowering and fertilization of the green orchid to help the plant's in vitro propagation [using] their seeds," he added.
"We need to continue research the acclimatization and reproduction of Dendrobium capra to support conservation of the endemic orchid in Indonesia," Trimanto said.
The orchid's wild population also needed constant monitoring, he continued, because the species had a narrow geographical spread and its natural habitat was generally located outside of conservation areas. (ami)