中国生物工程杂志

There are about 800 genera and 28 000 species in the family Orchidaceae Juss. (including 5 sub-families). As one of the largest families of angiosperms, Orchidaceae is widely distributed in various terrestrial ecosystems except Antarctica, mostly in the humid tropics and susbtropics. Orchids possess multiple types of value such as ecological, ornamental, medicinal, edible, cultural and scientific uses. They have always been a key protected group of concern, with all taxa listed in the appendixes of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and most species included in the Red Data Books of many countries. China is one of the countries with the richest resources of wild orchids. They consist of a series of evolutionary groups from primitive types to advanced types, and complex and diverse geographical distribution types. In this paper, the status, endangerment and conservation of wild orchid resources in China are comprehensively described and analyzed. The latest inventory documented 5 sub-families, 198 genera, 1 725 species of wild orchids in China, including 13 natural hybrid species. Seven genera, Bulbophyllum, Dendrobium, Liparis, Platanthera, Calanthe, Habenaria and Cymbidium, are the biggest groups at the generic level with more than 50 species each. There are 65 monotypic genera among wild orchids in China. The diverse uses of orchids in China are represented through their value in terms of ornament, medicine, food, culture, and research. In the Threatened Species List of China’s Higher Plants issued in 2017, 653 species of orchids were included in the list, which indicated Orchidaceae became the largest family with most threatened species. The List of National Key Protected Wild Plants renewed in 2021 covered 23 genera, 349 species of orchids, in which 53 species are listed as the first class protected plants and 296 species are the second class. The prospect of sustainable uses of orchid resources in the future is proposed. The latest edition of the List of National Key Protected Wild Plants released in 2021 has opened up a favorable new situation for the protection and management of wild orchids in China. All linguistic groups in China have a long tradition to recognize, manage, use and conserve orchids. They have traditionally grown Cymbidium hookerianum and Dendrobium chrysotoxum in homegardens, collected Bletilla striata and Gymnadenia conopsea to treat various ailments, cooked Gastrodia elata and Dendrobium catenatum with meat as medicinal food, and greeted friends with Cymbidium tortisepalum and Paphiopedilum micranthum. Their traditional knowledge and culture associated with orchids among local communities throughout the country have been well-known in China and in other parts of the world. The summarization and scientific popularization of China’s long-standing orchid culture and traditional knowledge should be paid attention to. The conservation of orchid biological and cultural diversity, discovery of new resources of orchids, and exploitation of new products for cultural, medicinal and food purposes will be benefited from the clues of traditional knowledge. It may not only become a novel idea and impetus for the conservation and sustainable uses of orchid resources, but also contribute to the achievement of ecological civilization and the Beautiful China initiative, rural revitalization, and sustainable economic and social development in China.