Orchid Power - Western Prairie Fringed Orchid
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Western Prairie Fringed Orchid
Western prairie fringed orchid grows in tallgrass prairies and meadows. It is threatened primarily by wetland draining and the conversion of rich soil prairies to agricultural cropland. Overgrazing, improper use of pesticides, and collecting also threatens its survival in Missouri. Western prairie fringed orchid is listed ENDANGERED by the Missouri Department of Conservation and THREATENED by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Identification
Western prairie fringed orchid is a stout, erect plant standing 1 to 4 feet tall. It has 2 to 5 elongated leaves along its angular stem. This perennial orchid blooms from late June to July and bears seed from July to September. Its flowers are creamy to greenish white. Each flower has a hood-shaped petal with three deeply fringed lobes and a long nectar spur in back. The blossoms occur in showy clusters at the top of each plant. The flowers are fragrant at night to attract moths, which are the only known pollinators. The orchid may remain dormant in the soil during drought periods.
Two other white fringed orchids may be found in Missouri. The eastern prairie fringed orchid is very similar to the western, and at one time they were considered a single species. The eastern prairie fringed orchid has rounded stems and smaller flowers than the western species. It is also a federally threatened species. Another similar species is ragged orchid, which is smaller, has greener flowers, a narrower flower spike, and a shorter nectar spur.
Habitat and Distribution
Western prairie fringed orchid is native to tallgrass prairies, sedge meadows, wet uplands, and river bottom prairies and meadows. In Missouri, populations of western prairie fringed orchid occur in rich, deep-soil upland prairies. Outside Missouri, it has been found in pastures, ditches, and cultivated fields and seems to tolerate some disturbance.
The western prairie fringed orchid was historically located in the western region of the state along several of Missouri's rivers. Populations were observed in western portions of the Ozark region, in the Osage Plains region, and along the northwestern portion of the Missouri River. Presently, this orchid has only been recorded from Atchinson, Holt, and Harrison counties.
Cause of Historic Decline
Historical reasons for declines in populations of western prairie fringed orchid are the direct result of loss of prairie habitat. At the time of European settlement, there were around 18 million acres of tallgrass prairie in the Midwest. Less than 1 percent remains today. As prairies were converted to cropland, the amount of suitable orchid habitat dwindled. Western prairie fringed orchid depends on open, sunny, prairie habitat. Its continued survival is dependent on good prairie management. Landowners can take an active role in protecting and managing prairie habitat.
Western Prairie Fringed Orchid
Western prairie fringed orchid grows in tallgrass prairies and meadows. It is threatened primarily by wetland draining and the conversion of rich soil prairies to agricultural cropland. Overgrazing, improper use of pesticides, and collecting also threatens its survival in Missouri. Western prairie fringed orchid is listed ENDANGERED by the Missouri Department of Conservation and THREATENED by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Identification
Western prairie fringed orchid is a stout, erect plant standing 1 to 4 feet tall. It has 2 to 5 elongated leaves along its angular stem. This perennial orchid blooms from late June to July and bears seed from July to September. Its flowers are creamy to greenish white. Each flower has a hood-shaped petal with three deeply fringed lobes and a long nectar spur in back. The blossoms occur in showy clusters at the top of each plant. The flowers are fragrant at night to attract moths, which are the only known pollinators. The orchid may remain dormant in the soil during drought periods.
Two other white fringed orchids may be found in Missouri. The eastern prairie fringed orchid is very similar to the western, and at one time they were considered a single species. The eastern prairie fringed orchid has rounded stems and smaller flowers than the western species. It is also a federally threatened species. Another similar species is ragged orchid, which is smaller, has greener flowers, a narrower flower spike, and a shorter nectar spur.
Habitat and Distribution
Western prairie fringed orchid is native to tallgrass prairies, sedge meadows, wet uplands, and river bottom prairies and meadows. In Missouri, populations of western prairie fringed orchid occur in rich, deep-soil upland prairies. Outside Missouri, it has been found in pastures, ditches, and cultivated fields and seems to tolerate some disturbance.
The western prairie fringed orchid was historically located in the western region of the state along several of Missouri's rivers. Populations were observed in western portions of the Ozark region, in the Osage Plains region, and along the northwestern portion of the Missouri River. Presently, this orchid has only been recorded from Atchinson, Holt, and Harrison counties.
Cause of Historic Decline
Historical reasons for declines in populations of western prairie fringed orchid are the direct result of loss of prairie habitat. At the time of European settlement, there were around 18 million acres of tallgrass prairie in the Midwest. Less than 1 percent remains today. As prairies were converted to cropland, the amount of suitable orchid habitat dwindled. Western prairie fringed orchid depends on open, sunny, prairie habitat. Its continued survival is dependent on good prairie management. Landowners can take an active role in protecting and managing prairie habitat.
posted by Ralph Brownly @ 11:55 PM
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