Story behind the art of Mariko Ikeda

Curious Allies: Mutualism in Fungi, Parasites, and Carnivores

The Fifth New York Botanical Garden Triennial

Mycoheterotrophic Orchid

Cyrtosia septentrionalis

Cyrtosia septentrionalis is a mycoheterotrophic orchid found in China, Korea, and Japan. Mycoheterotrophy is a form of plant nutrition in which a plant species that has lost its chlorophyll during evolution depends on a fungus as a source of energy. C. septentrionalis is not a species in danger, but we rarely see it as it requires a specific fungus to grow. After searching for years for this plant, I finally found information in a newspaper in 2019 about where this orchid can be observed. It is exciting to discover new beauty in an obscure species. I later knew that this project, by chance, would be a good match for Curious Allies.

C. septentrionalis has no leaves and bears sausage-like fruit. However, it is not just unique in appearance. It completely abandons photosynthesis, parasitizes a honey fungus that is pathogenic to most plants, and is the first orchid recently confirmed by researchers to utilize avian seed dispersal. In other words, it lives in a dark forest, steals from perilous nuisances, and gives some back to hungry friends - somewhat like a botanical Robin Hood. I could not shift my focus from this brave and unusual species. I admire its way of living that breaks stereotypes to blaze a unique trail no one has ever traveled.

The several plants I could access were growing in a private forest in Japan where bears and vipers appear. I visited repeatedly to sketch the plants in different phases, at the same time gradually getting to know the owner, a 90-year-old man who took care of the forest daily. He was probably anxious about leaving me alone, so he kindly waited for me each time I visited, until the sketches were done. I had initially planned to make the artwork much smaller, but ended up with a larger piece because the owner gave me some plant parts every season; for example, buds that had finished self-pollinating just before flowering, fruits with small animal tooth marks, and long rhizomes with traces from the previous year. They provided me with so much inspiration for the composition. As a result, what consumed me the most in the artwork process was narrowing down those numerous ideas.

I also learned that this kind of forest, adjacent to the outskirts of fields, is a symbolic ecosystem that has long been protected by Japanese people. The pleasant coniferous fragrance and the rich humus in the forest reminded me of the mycorrhizal network under the ground that Suzanne Simard wrote about in her book, Finding the Mother Tree. C. septentrionalis also has relationships with fungi and small creatures, and it may also have further symbiotic relationships that are yet to be discovered. I believe it must play some role as a family member of this forest. This image of the harmonized ecosystem has always been in my mind, although I was portraying a single species.

On the other hand, another story strongly motivated me. The habitat I visited is famous for its spring water coming from the ancient woodland. Despite this, the government chose the area as a potential site for the disposal of radioactive soil that had spread over a wide area from the Fukushima nuclear accident, because the site is distant from large cities. The plan remains stalled due to fierce opposition from residents, but the government has not yet withdrawn it. I know this is a difficult issue when we think about both situations, though it is very sad to consider simply sacrificing a beautiful environment.

Humans can instantly ruin nature, which has taken hundreds of years to build. I hope this little Robin Hood encourages us to consider our future carefully but bravely.

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Read more about this artist's work: Abundant Future