Touchy Beautiful Madams: popular spring orchids in Kanagawa’s forests

 

You may be surprised to hear that Yokohama’s forests are homes for wild orchids. The most known and popular wild orchid we meet in Yokohama is Cymbidium goeringii, aka Shunran シュンラン. It opens its flower first in spring, which is the reason of its Japanese name: Shun = spring and ran= orchid. They are so popular that we can sometimes find it in high-end garden centers. Frankly speaking, no one has succeeded in artificial nurturing of it. So, I bet those Cymbidium goeringii in shops are brought from wild. It has bushy narrow leaves. People can think it can produce enough saccharine by photosynthesis for urban life in lanais of high-rise apartments. Nah. Recent study found their photosynthesis covers only 40% of energy necessary for plant’s survival. The remaining 60% comes from mycorrhizal fungus that transfer saccharine made by nearby plants. Inevitably, keeping Cymbidium goeringii in artificial environment is extremely tricky. They will die out within a couple of years or so in your pretty pot. Many associations of forest volunteers in Kanagawa situate out-door notice to tell possible “thieves” their labor to dig out the Cymbidium goeringii is futile. In Niiharu, the damage these days are kept minimum. But we’re watchful, especially when they open their flower early spring ...

Cymbidium goeringii in Yokohama.
I won’t tell you where I’ve taken this photo 😉

Another popular wild orchid in Yokohama’s forest is Cephalanthera falcata, aka Kinran キンラン. They come out in April after Shunran. Kin means gold in Japanese. At the tip, about 30cm high from the ground, they have a cluster of bright yellow flowers in the form of tiny tulip. They stand out in dim forest. It‘s understandable their flower language is “Brilliant Beau.” Though this beauty is also very hard to please. Unlike Shunran, it cannot last not long when it’s transplanted in a pot. It has seemingly robust green leaves which would do vigorous photosynthesis but that’s obviously not enough to sustain gorgeous presentation. Compared with Shunran, it is bigger Kinran’s dependency on mycorrhizal fungus and the habitat that sustain the world of fungi. The lady is difficult … Kinran is categorized as “VU” in the 2020 Red List of Endangered Species in Japan.

Cephalanthera falcata

When there is “gold,” “silver” appears unsurprisingly. A few days later than for Kinran, Yokohama’s forests welcome Cephalanthera erecta, aka Ginran ギンラン. Gin means “silver.” The size of this orchid is about 10-15cm high with smaller number of flowers in one cluster. Their flower language is “Modest lady.” Having said that, the degree of fastidiousness from these unpretentious madams does not differ from Kinran. Ginran is not able to survive either in a flowerpot. As they are choosy for their environment, we humans become very careful to maintain the habitat of their home. If we take care properly, we can meet them every spring in the same area. If you meet Kinran or Ginran in a forest, please admire them in situ, and come back same time next year. 😉

Cephalanthera erecta

These 3 very popular spring orchids in Yokohama’s forest have green leaves. They do some photosynthesis, if not vigorous enough to sustain themselves alone. Come to think of it, almost all vegetation needs network of mycorrhizal fungus and the other plants for survival. The standard way of plants’ way of life is like this: plants do photosynthesis that create amino acid as food for themselves; fungus receive some portion of such nutrients created through photosynthesis and in return give the plants minerals the fungi digested from the soil. Many plants can produce enough carbon for their survival and the spills for fungus. It’s just like international trade, as Ricardo recommended for easier economic development. “You’re good at this, and I’m at that. Let’s exchange the product at an agreed price and all are happy!” Orchids cannot join this circle.

Cephalanthera longibracteata.
It looks like Cephalanthera erecta,
but its leaves are longer and
grew taller than the cluster of flowers.
It’s another orchid we can meet
in Yokohama’s forest in spring.
They cannot survive in pot, of course.

Yep, orchids also create some nutrients by themselves with their nominally green leaves, but they cannot survive only with their product. They definitely need suitable environment that can carry enough food from outside via fungi. Moreover, they choose the fungi that specializes in delivering food for them. If they cannot have their chosen carrier, they die. Yeah, orchids provide nice home for specialized mycorrhizal fungus, maybe like human body for COVID-19 virus. Still, it seems to me scholars themselves are wondering what the fungi gets in return from orchids. Some say orchids provide some carbon for fungi in return to their service, but the amount orchids receive is disproportionately larger. Many plants do not care much for the kinds of fungi that can help them to obtain minerals from the ground. By becoming picky for fungi and hence for environment, some say orchids exploit the specific environment the fungi need for survival. Orchids economize the energy of photosynthesis they otherwise would have to spend to get food. ... I one day heard that’s one of the reasons why orchids are at the pinnacle of plants evolution: they are in that sense very efficient to earn nutrients for survival. Oh, OK, yeah, humans these days do not spend a whole day running around the field for protein or nuts to eat. We’re using the other creatures producing food for us … But, is that really so? What do we give in return to animal and vegetable? If it is the world of comparative advantage, such relation could be unsustainable ... And there are more “advanced” plants if hanging-on fungi to eat is a clever move for plants’ evolution. More to them next week. These days I’m thrilled to meet such wonder of nature so near in our backyard …

Calanthe discolor.
This is also one of the spring orchids
categorized as “VU”
in the 2020 Red List of Endangered Species in Japan.
Technically speaking,
propagators can use similar technique
as for tropical orchids to nurture this plant artificially.
But the market price of the flower does not pay
for the cost of commercial production.
It means if you find them in a garden center,
it should be brought by theft,
or the landlord does not care his or her forest.
OK, when you’re ready to take care of it
properly as for Phalaenopsis orchid,
you can own it.
Otherwise, it will soon die in your pot,
and the degree of biodiversity of the planet is reduced.

If you find environmental issues in Kanagawa Prefecture, please make a contact with Kanagawa Natural Environment Conservation Center 神奈川県自然環境保全センター

657 Nanasawa, Atsugi City, 243-0121
〒243－0121　厚木市七沢657
Phone: 046-248-0323

You can send an enquiry to them by clicking the bottom line of their homepage at http://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/div/1644/