Photo: RHONA WISE / AFP / Getty Images
(Collier County, FL) - The ghost orchid, a rare tropical flower found in Southwest Florida, will officially be listed as an endangered species.
Federal wildlife officials say fewer than 1,500 remain in the wild, mainly in places like Big Cypress National Preserve in Collier County.
The plant faces growing threats from habitat loss, degradation, and poaching, prompting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to act following legal pressure from environmental groups.
Officials declined to designate critical habitat, saying it could draw more poachers.
The ghost orchid blooms between April and September and is known for its floating appearance high in swamp trees.