Federal Protection Proposed for Florida’s Eerie Ghost Orchid
Published Date: 6/5/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to officially protect the ghost orchid, a rare and magical-looking plant found in Florida and Cuba, by listing it as endangered. This means the orchid will get special care and protection under the law to help it survive. People can share their thoughts on this plan until August 4, 2025, and the government isn’t planning to set aside specific protected areas for it right now.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Federal proposal: Ghost orchid listed endangered
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to list the ghost orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii) as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. If finalized, the species would be added to the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants and the Act's protections would be extended to the ghost orchid.
No critical habitat will be designated
The Service found that designating critical habitat for the ghost orchid is "not prudent" and therefore is not proposing to designate critical habitat for this species. The agency concluded that designating critical habitat would likely increase the degree of threat to the species.
State and international permits govern collection and trade
Florida law requires written permission from the owner and a permit issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to collect or remove plants listed as endangered on the Florida Regulated Plant Index (Chapter 5B-40). The rule also notes that all orchids, including the ghost orchid, are listed under CITES Appendix II, which requires permits for international trade but does not regulate movement within a country.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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