NATURAL HISTORY
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More than 70 species of native orchids are recorded. Some of the ground orchids are very beautiful and have long been cultivated in other countries. Probably the best known of the local species is the Nun orchid, bearing flowers four inches across with white petals and a purple lip. Other noteworthy species are the white Susanna orchid, the yellow Buttercup orchid, the pink Bamboo orchid and the purple Lady's Slipper orchid.
By regulations, made under the Forestry Ordinance, special pro- tection is given to certain plants including camellias, enkianthus, magnolias, orchids, and azaleas.
The Hong Kong Herbarium, which was founded in 1878, contains a valuable collection of over 30,000 plant specimens including all the known 2,346 indigenous species and some 2,500 related species from adjacent regions of East and South East Asia. The Herbarium, situated in the headquarters of the Agriculture and Fisheries De- partment in the Canton Road government offices, is open to the public.