瀕危蘭花品種佛羅裡達鬼蘭首次在英國開花。這株蘭花近日被運至位於倫敦西南部的英國皇傢植物園 —— 邱園（Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew）展出。
The Florida Ghost Orchid, or Dendrophylax lindenii, gets its name from its striking white flower, which resembles a ghost floating in the air.
佛羅裡達鬼蘭，又名 Dendrophylax lindenii，因其引人註目的白色花朵得名，花朵看上去就像漂浮在空中的幽靈。
It’s normally found only in the swamps of south-west Florida and in Cuba, with fewer than 2,000 in existence. Populations in Florida were decimated when their host trees, the bald cypress, were logged during the Second World War to provide lumber for aircraft carrier decks.
這種蘭花通常隻見於美國佛羅裡達州西南部和古巴的沼澤中，現存的鬼蘭數量不到2000朵。在第二次世界大戰期間，佛羅裡達鬼蘭的數量大幅減少，這是因為當時這種蘭花的宿主樹木落羽杉被成批砍伐用作制造航空母艦甲板的木材。
The orchid has been brought to the UK to raise awareness of its plight. There are fears that poaching and climate change could endanger its existence further. The orchid on display at the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew is expected to be in flower for just a few days. So, there’s a great sense of excitement among conservationists keen for a glimpse of something never seen before in the UK.
鬼蘭被帶到英國展出是為瞭引起人們對這種蘭花所面臨困境的關註。人們擔心偷采和氣候變化可能會進一步危及它們的生存。在倫敦邱園威爾士王妃溫室展出的這株鬼蘭的預計花期隻有幾天。因此，自然環境保護人士都迫不及待地想要一睹為快，此前從未有人在英國見過這種蘭花。
詞匯表
striking 驚人的，引人註目的
decimated 大幅減少
logged 被砍伐
plight 困境
poaching 原意為 “偷獵”，此處指 “偷采”
glimpse 一瞥，一睹
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. Why is the orchid known as the Florida Ghost Orchid?
2. Where is the Florida Ghost Orchid normally found?
3. Why were populations of Ghost Orchid in Florida decimated?
4. How long will the Florida Ghost Orchid be in flower for?
答案
1. Why is the orchid known as the Florida Ghost Orchid?
The orchid gets its name from its striking white flower, which resembles a ghost floating in the air.
2. Where is the Florida Ghost Orchid normally found?
It’s normally found only in the swamps of south-west Florida and in Cuba.
3. Why were populations of Ghost Orchid in Florida decimated?
Populations of Ghost Orchid in Florida were decimated when their host trees, the bald cypress, were logged during the Second World War to provide lumber for aircraft carrier decks.
4. How long will the Florida Ghost Orchid be in flower for?
The orchid on display at the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew is expected to be in flower for just a few days.
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