Have you ever heard of Black Orchids? Black Orchids are a type of orchid that grows in Indonesia, especially Kalimantan. In Kalimantan, Black Orchids only grow in certain areas. Indonesia itself has approximately 5,000 species of orchids, one of which is the Black Orchid.
The Black Orchid is one of the rare plants that is protected in Indonesia, because it is rare and only grows in certain areas in Kalimantan, this flower is used as the mascot of the flora in the province of East Kalimantan because of it’s beauty and uniqueness.
Getting to know Black Orchids
The Black Orchid with the scientific name Coelogyne Pandurata is included in the sympodial group of orchids with a bulbous shape that is swollen at the bottom and has leaves that stretch out at the top, each bulb only has 2 leaves which at a glance are similar to the leaves of young coconut shoots.
It is called the Black Orchid because its color is black with green and hairy stripes and has light green sepals and petals. This plant lives in clusters to form clumps, Black orchids usually emit a very fragrant fragrance when they bloom around March to June.
Black Orchid Conservation
The Black Orchid Coelogyne Pandurata is experiencing serious extinction, this flower that grows on the Malay Peninsula, Kalimantan and Sumatra in its natural habitat is experiencing quite a large decline in numbers every year due to the shrinking forest area in Kalimantan but can still be found in the Kersik Luway Conservation.
As time progresses, the existence of Black Orchids in the Padang Luway Conservation is also increasingly threatened, this can happen because of the threat of forest fires that occur almost throughout the year.
In its conservation, quoted from awsassets.wwf.or.id WWF Indonesia collaborates with local governments, organizations and local communities to preserve black orchids in their natural habitat. Black Orchid is a type of orchid that is threatened extinct in its natural habitat and is protected in Indonesia.
Does Black Orchid only grow in Indonesia?
The orchid family (Orchidaceae) is the largest flowering plant family on earth with about 30,000 species, from its many species it can also be assumed that black orchids can also grow in other countries. However, Coelogyne Pandurata has its natural habitat in Kalimantan, Indonesia, which is why this flower is so protected. The Maxillaria Schunkeana orchid is another black orchid native to South America.
Do Black Orchids Naturally Grow Black?
Yes, some orchids grow naturally black, such as the genus Dracula Orchids which have really black flowers. Most of those with the name black orchid are not completely black, but are deep burgundy, maroon or deep purple. This can be influenced by visibility or light.
Example is Belize’s national flower, this “black orchid” is actually a deep purple color along the top petals, rather than black. But from far away, these petals appear black.
Other examples are the Cymbidium Kiwi Baron and the Cymbidium Kiwi Midnight, both types of Cymbidium orchids that grow with burgundy colored flowers. They appear black due to the deep saturated color.
Meanwhile, an example of a black orchid that is truly black is the Dracula family of orchids. These are sometimes referred to as Monkey Faced Orchids, another is Maxillaria Schunkeana orchid which is another black orchid native to South America. This orchid produces gorgeous black-colored blooms that last for about four weeks. It also goes by the name Black Velvet.
As well as the black orchid that grows in Indonesia, Coelogyne Pandurata, which has some black coloring. Not completely black but actually having a natural black color, this species grows with a combination of colors such as white, yellow, light green or off-white flowers, with a contrasting black lip.
Meaning of Black Orchid
Historically, orchids have been associated with witchcraft, dark magic, bad luck, and death. Orchid itself means beauty, luxury and elegance. The colors of flowers can also have different meanings, such as black orchids are a symbol of mystery, power, strength and authority.
Summary
Black Orchid is a type of flower that can grow to have a natural black color without being engineered by the genus. Black Orchid, which some call black orchids, is not always black but dark burgundy and deep purple.
Black orchid is a plant that is considered rare, each country has its own orchid habitat, such as Coelogyne pandurata (Kalimantan, Indonesia), Maxillaria schunkeana (South Africa), and various other countries.
References:
https://mengenalindonesia.com/anggrek-hitam/
http://awsassets.wwf.or.id/downloads/anggrek_hitam.pdf
https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anggrek_hitam
https://gardenersmag.com/black-orchids-flower-guide/
https://everydayorchids.com/black-orchids-2205r/
Image Sources:
https://pin.it/4VNnpOo
https://pin.it/2FoDXul
https://pin.it/73kSW6w
https://www.orchidroots.com/detail/photos/100145046/?role
