Britain’s rarest wild orchid refound after 15 years of searching
By Jill Dando News
The Ghost Orchid, Britain's rarest plant, has been rediscovered for the first time since 2009 by Richard Bate, a member of the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI).
Richard, inspired by a childhood encounter with a Bee Orchid, spent 30 years searching for the Ghost Orchid. A dental surgeon by profession, he leads orchid-hunting tours across Europe in his free time.
Richard found and photographed a single Ghost Orchid at an undisclosed site in England. The location is being kept secret to protect the delicate habitat.
The Ghost Orchid is named for its pale color and tendency to emerge in deep woodland shade. It has no leaves or chlorophyll, relying on nutrients from a fungal partner.
First recorded in Britain in 1854, the Ghost Orchid has only been seen flowering a few dozen times over 170 years.
It was declared extinct in 2009 after a 22-year absence, only to reappear a week later. Richard's discovery is the only sighting in the last 15 years.
The Ghost Orchid has been found in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire, with long gaps between sightings. It favors dark woodland of beech or oak in England but has been found under pine trees elsewhere in Europe.
Dr Kevin Walker, BSBI Head of Science, praised Richard's discovery, noting the difficulty in spotting this elusive plant.
