OUR VERY OWN ORCHID EXPERT

Not many people you meet are as knowledgeable and as passionate about indigenous orchids as Wild Tomorrow Fund’s Reserve Manager, Kevin Jolliffe. Kevin held the title of “Youngest Orchid Grower in South Africa” for 15 years when he was a young boy and is currently working on both writing and illustrating an “Orchids of KwaZulu-Natal” book for our region. Read more about how Kevin fell in love with orchids and his contributions to the orchid community below.

Kevin Jolliffe, Wild Tomorrow Fund’s Reserve Manager.

Kevin was a mere 7 years old when he first found his love for orchids. Going to one of his childhood friends’ home became his favorite thing to do after school and on the weekends – not because of his friendship with his mate Brian - but because Brian’s Mom grew orchids. It was through her that he first learned of orchids and was introduced to the local orchid collector, who he would continue to visit every other Saturday. A simple fascination became a favored hobby as Kevin started to grow and care for his own orchids, ultimately joining the Pietermaritzburg Orchid Society where he held the title of Youngest Orchid Grower in South Africa for 15 years. Kevin feels that from there, the orchid passion absorbed him, as he had the opportunity to meet many more orchid growers and increase his knowledge.

Flash-forward 30 odd years, Kevin is now working on an Orchids of KwaZulu-Natal book, describing each of the 234 species found in KZN as well as illustrating each orchid life-size in beautiful watercolor.

Other contributions to the orchid community include photo submissions to Orchidmap and iNaturalist (Citizen Science programs), contributions of herbarium material for multiple orchid species, detection of new locations for various orchids species, additions to reference collections for living herbariums for both Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the UKZN Botanic Garden reference collection in Pietermaritzburg.

Orchid Disa montana, illustrated by Kevin Jolliffe.

Kevin has also assisted Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife with a number of orchid surveys (including at our neighboring iSimangaliso Wetland Park - a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Pollination Ecology Department. In addition, Kevin co-described a species in 2010 (Stenoglottis modestus) and is busy describing two new species for KwaZulu-Natal, which represent significant range extensions of tropical African species.

Orchid data can be used for a multitude of applications, from Environmental Impact Assessments to determining correlations of flowering time with climatic conditions and more. Indigenous orchids are a natural treasure protected under CITES; with 30,000 to 40,000 species recorded worldwide, they make up the largest plant family in the world. Of that, 544 species have been found in South Africa (with 45 species endemic to South Africa) and 284 (and counting) found in Wild Tomorrow Fund’s province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). KZN has a wide range of these enchanting orchid flora due to its varying habitats.

Orchid species found on Wild Tomorrow Fund properties, to date, include Eulophia speciosa (well known for its abilities to colonize disturbed areas and often seen along road verges in the area), Eulophia petersii (in good numbers, found in riverine thickets), as well as single plants of Polystachy modesta, Angraecum cultriforme, and Aerangis mystacidii. In the sand forest section Cyrtorchis praetermiss ssp. zuluensis and Mystacidium venosum can be found as well. There have only been 20 species of orchids recorded in sand forests throughout Maputoland, but many have been reduced considerably due to habitat destruction.

Unfortunately, several species have become extinct in our lifetime or are close to extinction due to the alarming rate of habitat destruction globally. It is essential that wild spaces are saved, not only to save orchids but to save many species (named and unnamed), that share those habitats. Wild Tomorrow Fund’s habitat protection program aims to save biodiverse land (such as sand forests) for the big flora and fauna such as rhinos, elephants, and Baobab trees – as well as small flora and fauna including sengi, arachnids, and orchids.  

Be on the lookout on Wild Tomorrow Fund’s Instagram and Facebook pages for orchid sightings on our Ukuwela and Mfuleni Conservancies, as well as for any announcements regarding Kevin’s Orchids of KwaZulu-Natal book! If you’d like to donate to our habitat protection program, which will protect the orchids and other flora and fauna at our Ukuwela Reserve in KwaZulu- Natal South Africa, please click below to donate.