Species Use Database

Baiji, Purple Ground Orchid, Bletilla Tuber
Bletilla striata

Used for Medicine and hygiene and Keeping/companionship/display in China

A. Species

Scientific name: Bletilla striata

Common name(s): Baiji, Purple Ground Orchid, Bletilla Tuber

Global IUCN Red List Threat Status:


B. Location of use

Geographic location(s):

  • China

Country/Region:


C. Scale of assessment

Scale of assessment: National Level

Name/Details of location: China


D. Timescale of use

Start Year: 2025

End Year: 2025


E. Information about the use

How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat and Wild species born/bred and raised/produced in captivity or through artificial propagation

Type of use: Extractive

Practice of use: Gathering/Cutting/Collecting terrestrial plants and fungi or their products from the wild

Lethal or non-lethal: Lethal

Does this use involve take/extraction of: Only parts or products of the organism

Purpose(s) of end use: Medicine and hygiene and Keeping/companionship/display

Motivation of use: Income generation from trade (individual/household/community), Largescale commercial exploitation for trade and Traditional/Cultural/Spiritual

Is this use legal or illegal?: not recorded


F. Information about the Users

Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: National / local private sector


G. Information about the sustainability of use

Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat and Wild species born/bred and raised/produced in captivity or through artificial propagation

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: No, sustainability not determined

Details of assessment carried out: Published scientific literature

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Extensive cultivation and trade of B. striata has potentially reducing the species’ genetic differentiation and adaptive potential. This reduces their ability to cope with environmental changes and increases their risk of extinction.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Details of assessment carried out: Published scientific literature

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: not recorded


Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species

Conservation efforts should integrate genetic, ecological and historical data to ensure the long-term survival of B. striata. In order to preserve the genetic integrity, human-mediated gene flow should be minimized and genetically distinct populations should be protected from overharvesting. The author's recommend targeted conservation efforts in the lower ranges of the Yangtze River and southern China, focusing on preserving the high haplotype diversity.


Record source

Information about the record source: scientific_pub

Date of publication/issue/production: 2025-01-01T00:00:00+0000

Source Reference(s):

Huang, W., Hu, C., Zeng, X., Gaitán-Espitia, J.D., Jiang, K. and Lan, S., 2025. Unveiling the genetic landscape of Bletilla striata: conservation challenges in a medicinal orchid under threat. Global Ecology and Conservation, 59, p.e03556.

Date of record entry: 2025-07-02