Chipka, S.A.

This field guide includes all the orchid species located during the orchid survey conducted between winter of 2002 to date of publication. In keeping with the format of the study itself the arrangement of orchids presented is done by first, island wide
species, and second, orchids by geographic quadrant. This volume contains those orchids found to date growing below the line of the cloud forest on Mt. Scenery. The cloud forest orchids are in a ―special‖ environ-ment and are the subject of a future volume devoted strictly to the cloud forest and its ecology. Technical terms have been minimized to make the guide sim-pler to use by nonscientists.

The Orchidaceae on the island of Saba, Netherlands Antilles, have only briefly been studied and described. In January 2003, in cooperation with the Saba Conservation Foundation, a 3-year orchid population study of the island was established and is expected to continue as an on-going project. Unique in its geology, as well as its lack of serious tourism impact, the island of Saba provides a distinct research environment for Caribbean Island orchid habitation and ecology data. To date, the study has identified 13 species in eight genera of Caribbean orchids that may be considered naturalized. A unique copper form of Epidendrum ciliare has been located, which presents possible indications of variation from the usual E.ciliare Caribbean types. Orchid populations have been identified and GPS-located for use in future studies.
Populations of significant size have been map-plotted for use by the Saba Conservation Foundation in its land-based environmental management programs. This paper addresses species recordings of the Saba Orchidaceae, with previous historical citations, to date of publication.