Page 18 - LIN March-2023 50-84-sent

Orchidelirium: The Flower Fever Is Still Lurking in the Swamp

by Lois Bolin, Ph.D., Old Naples Historian
ff in a distant part of the house, I heard even motivating scientific breakthroughs that have made the once-
a news reporter state that the ghost elusive bloom plentiful and affordable enough for the everyday
Oorchid may get protection under the person.
Endangered Species Act. Wait-what? Isn’t it Perhaps the most well-known modern orchid fanatic is an
already protected? American horticulturist named John Laroche. In 1993 he poached
Did you know that Florida’s most famous 136 orchids including the rare ghost orchid, filling several garbage
native orchids is the ghost orchid? Today there bags and pillowcases* from the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve
are allegedly 603 – 1500 reproductively mature with the help of Seminole tribe members. He claimed he only did
ghost orchids left in places such as Fakahatchee it to clone and cultivate endangered species.
Strand Preserve State Park, Audubon Ultimately, as Mr. Laroche saw it, he would saturate the black
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, the Florida Panther National market and loosen its grip on these rare and delicate commodities.
Wildlife Refuge, and Big Cypress National Preserve. While He said, “I researched the law and realized that it was vague about
Florida has already declared the orchid endangered, a federal the Indians taking things out of state preserves. This law ought
designation would add increased protections and create stronger to be changed, but in the meantime, someone’s going to get the
penalties in the case of poaching. benefit of the law being the way it is now, and I figure it might as
Well, why not get the government involved in a local issue – well be me.”
an issue that was addresses in 1993 in the nonfiction book Mr. Laroche paid a fine, and his two Seminole accomplices
The Orchid Thief. (who were technically his employers) pleaded no contest and
Orchidelirium were released as the government wanted to end the trial sooner
Delirium is defined as a serious change in mental abilities rather than later, as issues involving the Seminole Indians and the
resulting in confused thinking and a lack of awareness of Everglades tended to be quite sensitive. The worst penalty
someone's surroundings. The disorder usually comes on fast- Mr. Laroche had to pay, however, was the probation that prohibited
within hours or a few days-or when seeing rare orchids. him from visiting his beloved Fakahatchee Strand for six months.
Europeans had cultivated orchids on a small scale since the Mr. Laroche, who has since changed his last name due to
1700s, with their popularity blossoming in the 1800s as wealthy threats, had both won and lost: He had found a loophole in the
orchid collectors employed hunters to travel the world, especially law, but lost the case; found the orchids, but lost the right to keep
the tropics, in search of rare species. them; and found himself famous but slightly disgraced.
The Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species What If ?
of Wild Fauna and Flora banned the collection of wild orchids in In the movie, Catch Me If You Can, is allegedly a true story of
1973. But people continue to poach and smuggle. the world's most sought-after con man, immortalized by Leonardo
Orchidelirium still exists to some extent today although the DiCaprio. Frank Abagnale was released from prison after five years
past expected perils, where orchid hunters risk their lives for on the condition that he help the government develop check fraud-
flowers, won’t be seen at your local garden shows – or will they? prevention programs. Quite the skill set.
The Orchid Thief Ms. Orleans interviewed one of only six people in the entire

Orchids have long been the subject of intense scientific country (at that time) who knew how to propagate the ghost
interest and at times, emotional obsession. "When a man falls in orchid in a plant laboratory. I can’t help but wonder… what if
love with orchids, he'll do anything to possess the one he wants. Laroche was given the grace and a title of “ghost buster” and
It's like chasing a green-eyed woman or taking cocaine. . . it's a allowed to propagate ghost orchids for the Fakahatchee Strand to
sort of madness," proclaims an orchid hunter in Susan Orlean’s sell and deter those nasty poachers. What if?
bestselling book The Orchid Thief. This level of devotion has (* There is no truth to the rumor that those pillowcases were from Mr. Pillow Guy.)
inspired significant investment in the flower throughout history,
18 Life in Naples | March 2023