Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Hunt continues for Cambodia’s unknown orchid species

Hunt continues for Cambodia’s unknown orchid species

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
The environment ministry’s Neth Pheaktra visits the Kesor Kol centre. PHEAKRA VIA FB

Hunt continues for Cambodia’s unknown orchid species

Experts at the Ministry of Environment are working on identifying other unknown and unnamed varieties of Kesor Kol – a type of orchid. Many orchid species still without scientific recognition occur in Cambodia, they say.

Orchids are famously attractive flowers that grow in the wild and can be quite complex in their biology and make interesting subjects for scientific studies. There are thousands of different orchid species, but many of them are almost indistinguishable from each other when judged by outward appearances.

Orchids are rare flowers that often grow in solitary conditions deep in the forest, often with just a single orchid found growing on a tree branch. They can fetch a high price from collectors who hunt for them, but the over-harvesting of orchids is one of the factors that threaten them, particularly the rarest species.

Over the years, rangers and scientists have gone into the forests of Cambodia to find new orchid species for collection and study at Kesor Kol Sok An Phnom Kulen Research and Conservation Centre in Siem Reap.

According to experts, the process of searching out and identifying orchids is slow due to a lack of human resources in this area.

Chhin Sophea, director of the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation, said that at present the human resources for research and classification or the scientific taxonomy of the orchid species are limited so the research process has to be done slowly.

Due to the lack of resources, the centre could only classify about 10 types of orchid per year, while he and other experts believe that there are many other types of orchids in Cambodia that have not yet been identified.

“So far, we have collected 210 types, but we have just identified 119 and the remaining 91 have not been identified,” he said.

He continued that identifying orchids was complicated because some specimens could not be identified with the naked eye and needed to go through further DNA analysis, which was not yet possible in Cambodia, so the orchid samples must be sent abroad for identification.

He added that after studying an orchid, if it is determined to be a new species that has not yet been identified, then experts need to find a scientific name for it and a name in Khmer for it and there must be further study of the biological conditions of that new type.

Sophea claims that human resources in scientific research, classification or taxonomy of orchids is very limited and few universities provide training in these skills.

“As far as I know, the underlying theory in scientific taxonomy is taught at the Royal University of Phnom Penh [RUPP] and the Royal University of Agriculture [RUA], but not for any specific or particular plant,” he said.

As an expert, he encourages students to learn these skills to help conserve orchids, many of which are endangered. If Cambodia had enough experts with this skill it would then be able to build a laboratory and it would be easier and less time consuming for identification.

Sophea added that in Thailand, up to 1,000 species of orchids have now been identified. Based on its similar topography and weather, he believes that there are still many unknown orchid species present in Cambodia.

“The type of orchid named ‘Preah Trohoeng’ [Grammatophyllum speciosum] is a rare species and was believed to not exist in Cambodia, but it was found deep in the rainforest. Therefore, it is also possible that Cambodia still has many other types of orchids.

“In general, experts believe that many more species are present in Cambodia, but the problem is the lack of researchers. If the research is slow, some species may become extinct before we ever know about them due to commercial extraction,” he said.

Environment ministry secretary of state Neth Pheaktra said last week that the ministry is set to host the third National Kesor Kol Forum in March to promote the conservation of the Kingdom’s wild orchid varieties.

The forum will showcase Kesor Kol and bring together flower businesspeople and enthusiasts, ministry officials, and representatives of other institutions, he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • Honda shutters Siem Reap football club

    Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda, the owner of Siem Reap football club Soltilo Angkor FC, has been forced to shut the club down, after it failed to attract sponsorship for the upcoming season. Honda, the former manager of the Cambodia men's national football team, said

  • Hun Sen warns of regional tensions

    ASIA is becoming a dangerous geopolitical hotspot, with several countries announcing that they intend to send naval vessels towards Southeast Asia and on to the South China Sea, warned Prime Minister Hun Sen. “Heated geopolitical issues can easily escalate, namely to war. I am not

  • PM declares ASEAN Para Games open

    The 12th ASEAN Para Games officially kicked off on the evening of June 3 at Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, with a spectacular opening ceremony featuring fireworks and performances by some of the Kingdom’s most accomplished talents. Tens of thousands of sports fans

  • Waterway job still pending for Kampot tourism port’s opening

    The search is still on for a contractor to expand and deepen the Kampot International Tourism Port’s waterway and deliver additional enhancements allowing safe access for larger vessels, nearly a year after the main construction work on the 4.25ha site was completed on June 30, 2022.