Korean Orchid Series (1st) - November 12, 2001


The new Korean Orchid Series will be issued during the next five years from 2001 to 2005. In the first bundle of the series, a variety of orchids including Dendrobium moniliforme (L.) Sw., Gymnadenia camtschatica (Cham.) Miyabe & Kudo, Habenaria radiata (Thunb.) Spreng. and Orchis cyclochila (Franch. & Sav.) Maxim. are featured.

Dendrobium moniliforme (L.) Sw.
This evergreen perennial plant that grow on rocks in the southern part of Korea is 5 to 25 centimeters in height. The blooms vary in hue from white to pale pink. This fragrant orchid bears one or two blossoms in May or June. Normally, the plants thrived naturally but are now on the verge of extinction as they are picked recklessly for medicinal or ornamental purposes.

Gymnadenia camtschatica (Cham.) Miyabe & Kudo
This perennial plant, which grows deep in the mountains of Korea, is 20 to 50 centimeters in height. The blooms are light reddish in color. The flower forms a raceme of 5 to 15 centimeters from May throughout July. It is a rare strain that grows wild in Ulleung Island in North Gyeongsang Province and in the high mountains in the northern part of Korea.

Habenaria radiata (Thunb.) Spreng.
This perennial plant grows in the wet grasslands in the central and southern part of the nation and is 20 to 40 centimeters in height. White in hue, one to four blossoms bloom in the trunk of the plant from July to August. Suggesting the image of a night heron in flight, the shape of the flower is truly beautiful.

Orchis cyclochila (Franch. & Sav.) Maxim.
This perennial plant grows in North Hamgyeong Province, Jeju Island, Halla Mountain and Jiri Mountain. It is 10 to 15 centimeters in height. Two to three light pinkish blossoms bloom in May and June.