Welcome to the Central African Orchid database

This database currently contains 1806 pictures of 370 taxa in 62 genera.

About us

This database provides images and information about the orchids of Central Africa. It includes scientific names, distribution data, photos, web links, and references.

This information will promote land conservation and sound natural resource management in tropical Africa. Its use for academic, educational, and general is also encouraged.

The images presented here result from an intensive fieldwork carried out by the: Université Libre de Bruxelles, Université de Yaoundé I, Missouri Botanical Garden, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement

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Our mission

This interactive photographic guide can help you to identify orchid species from tropical Africa. The database currently comprises information on about 300 illustrated orchid species, many of them pictured in our African shadehouse network or in the field.

View Shadehouses

In its initial phase it encompasses those species listed for central Africa in the World checklist of Orchidaceae of Kew Gardens, as well as those recorded by more recent publications and by our network of regional experts. View Kew Gardens

Collaboration with us

Persons are invited to submit images of plants to the database, especially for species where no image currently exists. These and other contributions/corrections may be sent to us.

Copyright information and Citation

The images made available here may be used freely for non-profit, educational purposes only, on the condition that complete citation information is given, as follows:

Droissart V., Simo-Droissart M., Sonké B., Geerinck D. & Stévart, (year of accession). Orchidaceae of Central Africa. http://www.orchid-africa.org/

Use in any copyrighted document or any web site is prohibited without explicit permission in writing from the photographer or the photographer's designated agent. Please look at the terms of use for more information.