Mexico is a 'mega' biodiversity hotspot, and it is particularly rich in orchid species diversity, with over 1,300 known species from across the orchid family tree, of which ca. 520 (40%) are only found in Mexico! Particularly orchid species rich regions of Mexico include the mountainous regions of Sierra Madre Oriental near the Gulf of Mexico, the Eje Volcanico Transversal stretching east-west across the width of south-central Mexico, and the Sierra Madre del Sur along the southern Pacific coast into Guatemala. These mountain ranges likely help to increase rates of species diversification by creating barriers to reproduction and generating a wide variety of habitat types, including dry grasslands, open oak-pine forests, and cool wet cloud forests on the highest peaks.

Mexican botansists are also leaders in the study of orchid systematics, biology, and evolution, including Gerardo Salazar (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México), Eric Hágsater (Instituto Chinoin), Rodolfo Solano Gomez (Instituto Politécnico Nacional), and Miguel Ángel Soto Arenas (1963-2009).

The New York Botanical Garden William and Lynda Steere Herbarium holds the 7th largest collection of orchid specimens, and is a major resource for global plant conservation and research. In celebration of NYBG's 2025 The Orchid Show: Mexican Moderism, learn more about Mexico's incredible orchid diversity!

NYBG orchid specimens were digitized through National Science Foundation award #1802034 

Literature Cited

Castillo-Pérez, L.J., D., Martínez-Soto, J.J. Maldonado-Miranda, et al. 2019. The endemic orchids of Mexico: a review. Biologia, 74: 1–13 https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-018-0147-x

Gutiérrez-Rodríguez, B.E., M. Vásquez-Cruz, V. Sosa. 2022. Phylogenetic endemism of the orchids of Megamexico reveals complementary areas for conservation. Plant Diversity, 44: 351-359. doi: 10.1016/j.pld.2022.03.004.

Hágaster, E., and M.A.Soto Arenas. 1998. Orchid conservation in Mexico. Selbyana, 19: 15-19.

Soto Arenas, M.A., R.S. Gomez, and E. Hágsater. 2007. Risk of extinction and patterns of diversity loss in Mexican orchids. Lankesteriana, 7: 114-121.