Rare Orchid Thought to be Extinct Discovered Thriving in Rooftop in London!

Colony of small-flowered tongue orchid plants found in rooftop garden of investment bank Nomura. The uncommon species of orchid thought to have gone on extinction in the UK has been found on the roof of an office building in the City of London.

Small-flowered Tongue Orchid

Serapias parviflora, also referred to as small-flowered tongue orchid, was seen growing in the 11th-floor rooftop garden of the Japanese investment bank Nomura. It is generally seen in the Mediterranean basin and the Atlantic coast of Spain, Portugal, and France. It is only the second time the species has been discovered in the UK.

The former colony was discovered in 1989 in Rame Head, Cornwall, but in 2009 it was destroyed because of land mismanagement. The 15-plant colony in London is believed to be the remaining one in the UK.

The plants grow to around 30cm and usually have between three and 12 tiny flowers, which are typically orange. Other orchids have made their abode at Nomura. The largest colony of green-winged orchids in London, generally found in Europe and the Middle East, was discovered in its rooftop garden three years ago.

How the Seed of Orchids Spread

Mark Patterson, who is in charge of the garden, found the latest orchids during a monthly survey. How the orchids arrived is still unknown, but Patterson said the seed of orchids are tiny and can journey great distances by wind. Orchid could have originated on the continent and been carried over the Channel on southerly winds which usually bring Saharan dust deposits to the capital.

Mark Patterson said once it is settled on the Nomura roof the seeds would have produced a symbiosis with a mycorrhizal fungus making them able to germinate and grow. While possible, the chances are astronomical. Another explanation, he said, is that the seeds were taken to the roof in the soil used to make the garden over a decade ago.

The Interesting Phenomenon

The plants can take a lot of years to mature when growing in arid and dry soil conditions. An ecologist and co-author of Britain's Orchids, Mike Waller, said: "To discover Britain's second colony of small-flowered tongue orchids is thrilling in itself, but to see them on a green roof in the City of London is remarkable."

"This is clear proof that with dedication and patience, even the most improbable areas can become havens for some of our rarest wildlife." In spite of jubilation at the discovery, some botanists are concerned about flower species emerging from warmer climates as temperatures keep rising.

The honorary botany curator for the Linnean Society of London, Mark Spencer, said while on one hand this is a very interesting phenomenon, there is a deeply concerning undercurrent, that is climate change.

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