Phragmipedium kovachii

Named and described in 2002 by researchers at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, this “Holy Grail of the orchid world” is at the centre of controversy and legal issues.

At issue is the importation of a living plant from Peru to Florida by its "discoverer", James Michael Kovach, apparently in contravention of The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which prohibits people from importing or exporting ladyslipper orchids between countries without permit.

Kovach took the orchid to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, where researchers formally described and published the name and description of the new species in a marathon session.

It is not clear whether the legal requirements surrounding the arrival of the plant in the US were followed; Craig Pittman of the St. Petersburg Times writes: "Kovach advised Selby Gardens staff that he had legally imported the orchid into the United States and subsequently provided Selby Gardens with certain USDA permits and Peruvian certificates to support them." However, a formal complaint to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (the enforcer of CITES in the USA) by Peru has led to raids on Kovach's greenhouse, auditing of Selby Gardens' records and subpoenas of a dozen Selby employees and board members to a Federal Grand Jury.

So far, the executive director and eight board members of Selby Gardens have resigned because of the controversy.

As for the plant, the site where it was first found has been stripped of these orchids by unethical collectors and is now locally extinct. Happily, a population has been found elsewhere in a very remote location.

Related articles and links:

A Whiff of Scandal by Craig Pittman of the St. Petersburg Times (the most recent account of the story with the latest developments)
Selby Gardens Identifies Spectacular New Orchid Species From Peru (link removed) - a press release from Selby Gardens from June 18, 2002. This link was noted removed on January 15, 2004, due to a redesign of the Selby web site.
The Exciting New Phragmipedium kovachii written by Nina Rach with links to other online articles
Peruvian orchid feeds intrigue in United States by Georgia Tasker of the Miami Herald
The Phragmipedium from Peru by Ernest Dobbs

Lastly, some stunning photographs of Phragmipedium kovachii from the Peruvian Orchid Society

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 3:57 PM on November 2, 2003