Wild orchids from selected forests in Mindanao [Philippines]

A number of wild orchids are found in the Philippines. However, many wild orchids are now endangered because of the destruction of their natural habitats and indiscriminate collection. Efforts should be made to propagate these plants and maintain them in botanical gardens. Toward this end, Solidum (CMU) collected, propagated, and maintained wild orchids from selected areas in Mindanao and transferred them to the Mt. Musuan Zoological and Botanical Garden. Wild species of orchids were collected from Mt. Malindang, Misamis Occidental; Mt. Hamiguitan, Davao; Mt.Kalatungan, Bukidnon; and from Kisaray, a jungle village and ancestral domain in Malaybalay, Bukidnon from October 2004 to April 2006. The orchids were reared at the nursery of the Central Mindanao University (CMU)-Department of Horticulture-Tissue Culture Laboratory, College of Agriculture. The collected plants were identified through their flowers using Davis and Steiner (1952), Valmayor (1984), and Cootes (2001) as guide. Six genera from Mt. Hamiguitan were identified by Leonardo Co, a taxonomist affiliated with Conservational International. The plants were propagated using methods appropriate for the species. Successful propagation and mortality were recorded. Distribution (place and elevation) of the collected plants were derived from Cootes (2001) and Valmayor (1984). Endemic species were also noted. Findings of the study revealed the following: A total of 75 wild species were collected from the four locations. Based on growth habit, 88% were sympodials while 12% were monopodials. Based on habitat, 83% were epiphyte, 1% epiphyte/lithophyte, and 16% terrestrial. Of the entire collection, 18.67% were unidentified, of which 10.67% did not survive. Survival of the total collection was 84%. The plants that did not survive mostly came from Mt.Kalatungan.