Poachers hunting rare 'ghost' flowers, prompting extinction warning

(WJW) - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fears if action isn't taken, the rare ghost orchid could soon be extinct.

The FWS is now proposing to list the swamp-dwelling plant as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.

According to experts, the ghost orchid is a flowering plant that is only in Florida and western Cuba. It is described as a leafless plant that attaches itself by its roots high up on trees, making its white blossoms appear to hover in the air and look ghost-like.

"It is one of the most famous flowers in Florida, but its population has declined to fewer than 1,000 plants in the United States. Less than half of those are mature enough to reproduce," warned the FWS in a press release.

Experts report the plant is at risk of extinction due to multiple threats, including habitat loss and habitat degradation.

However, poaching is its biggest threat. The Service said it is not proposing critical habitat for the plant out of fear that it would only increase the threat of poaching.

A public comment period for the ruling is set to last through early August.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora treaty covers all orchid species, including the ghost orchid, and requires a permit to "trade" the plant across international borders for commercial, scientific, or personal purposes. It does not, however, cover orchid transit within the same country.