Galearis spectabilis

(L.) Raf.

Showy Orchid

G5Secure Found in 87 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.144703
Element CodePMORC16010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
CITESAppendix II
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderOrchidales
FamilyOrchidaceae
GenusGalearis
Synonyms
Orchis spectabilisL.
Other Common Names
Galéaris remarquable (FR) showy orchid (EN) Showy Orchis (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-08-14
Change Date1984-04-09
Edition Date2024-08-14
Edition AuthorsGeoffrey Hall (1998), rev. Soteropoulos (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Galearis spectabilis is a wide-ranging perennial herb in forests and woodlands occurring in eastern North America from New Brunswick west to Ontario, Canada south to Georgia west to Oklahoma. Threats include invasive plant species and nonnative earthworms, recreation (including off-road vehicles), lack of fire leading to succession, logging, livestock grazing, deer herbivory, rights-of-way construction and maintenance, collection, and other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Galearis spectabilis occurs in eastern North America from New Brunswick west to Ontario, Canada south to Georgia west to Oklahoma (FNA 2002). Range extent was estimated to be over 2.7 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are thousands of occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species is threatened by invasive plant species and nonnative earthworms, recreation (including off-road vehicles), lack of fire leading to succession, logging, livestock grazing, deer herbivory, rights-of-way construction and maintenance, collection, and other threats in some places (NatureServe 2024). There is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand the scope and severity of threats for this taxon. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Galearis spectabilis grows in moist, deciduous forests, woodlands, thickets, and old fields, typically over calcareous or mafic rocks (FNA 2002, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2024).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - HardwoodForest - MixedOld field
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
MississippiS1Yes
ConnecticutS3Yes
DelawareS3Yes
Rhode IslandS1Yes
OhioSNRYes
North CarolinaS4Yes
MinnesotaSNRYes
New JerseyS4Yes
ArkansasSNRYes
PennsylvaniaS4Yes
West VirginiaS5Yes
VirginiaS5Yes
New YorkS4Yes
WisconsinSNRYes
IllinoisS3Yes
GeorgiaS3Yes
MaineS1Yes
New HampshireS2Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
KansasS2Yes
TennesseeS4Yes
KentuckyS5Yes
NebraskaS1Yes
MassachusettsS1Yes
South CarolinaS3Yes
MarylandSNRYes
IndianaS4Yes
MichiganS2Yes
District of ColumbiaSNRYes
AlabamaS3Yes
IowaS5Yes
MissouriSNRYes
VermontS3Yes
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
OntarioS4Yes
New BrunswickS1Yes
QuebecS2Yes
Threat Assessments

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (87)
Arkansas (4)
AreaForestAcres
Clifty CanyonOzark-St. Francis National Forest1,963
Dismal CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest9,160
Pedestal RocksOzark-St. Francis National Forest21,957
Richland CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest571
Georgia (12)
AreaForestAcres
Ben GapChattahoochee National Forest1,292
Big MountainChattahoochee National Forest1,974
Boggs CreekChattahoochee National Forest2,073
Cedar MountainChattahoochee National Forest1,083
Ellicott Rock AdditionChattahoochee National Forest690
Helton CreekChattahoochee National Forest2,348
Joe GapChattahoochee National Forest5,321
Kelly RidgeChattahoochee National Forest8,325
Lance CreekChattahoochee National Forest9,025
Pink KnobChattahoochee National Forest12,127
Sarah's CreekChattahoochee National Forest6,888
Turner CreekChattahoochee National Forest1,495
Illinois (1)
AreaForestAcres
Ripple HollowShawnee National Forest3,788
Kentucky (1)
AreaForestAcres
WolfpenDaniel Boone National Forest2,835
New Hampshire (1)
AreaForestAcres
KilkennyWhite Mountain National Forest28,766
North Carolina (26)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainPisgah National Forest11,085
Balsam ConePisgah National Forest10,591
Barkers Creek (addition)Nantahala National Forest975
BearwallowPisgah National Forest4,113
Cheoah BaldNantahala National Forest7,795
Cherry Cove (addition)Nantahala National Forest836
Chunky Gal (addition)Nantahala National Forest3,336
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Dobson KnobPisgah National Forest6,111
Graveyard Ridge (addition)Pisgah National Forest1,958
Harper CreekPisgah National Forest7,325
Jarrett CreekPisgah National Forest7,485
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
Linville Gorge AdditionPisgah National Forest2,809
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
Mackey MountainPisgah National Forest5,934
Middle Prong AdditionPisgah National Forest1,852
Overflow CreekNantahala National Forest3,379
Sharptop Ridge (addition)Nantahala National Forest600
Slide HollowPisgah National Forest193
SnowbirdNantahala National Forest8,489
South Mills RiverPisgah National Forest8,588
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
Wesser BaldNantahala National Forest4,061
Wilson CreekPisgah National Forest4,863
Woods MountainPisgah National Forest9,602
South Carolina (2)
AreaForestAcres
Bee CoveSumter National Forest3,025
Big MountainSumter National Forest2,337
Tennessee (11)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainCherokee National Forest11,743
Big Laurel Branch AdditionCherokee National Forest5,577
Brushy RidgeCherokee National Forest7,469
Devil's BackboneCherokee National Forest4,287
Flint Mill GapCherokee National Forest9,494
Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Add.Cherokee National Forest1,396
London Bridge BranchCherokee National Forest3,387
Sampson Mountain AdditionCherokee National Forest3,064
Slide HollowCherokee National Forest4,057
Stone MountainCherokee National Forest5,367
Sycamore CreekCherokee National Forest6,984
Vermont (2)
AreaForestAcres
Bread LoafGreen Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,768
Griffith Lake 09084Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,833
Virginia (23)
AreaForestAcres
Adams PeakGeorge Washington National Forest7,135
Bear CreekJefferson National Forest18,274
Beaver Dam CreekJefferson National Forest1,135
Broad RunJefferson National Forest10,971
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Gum RunGeorge Washington National Forest12,620
Hoop HoleJefferson National Forest4,652
Horse HeavenJefferson National Forest4,748
JerkemtightGeorge Washington National Forest16,687
Kelley MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,590
Mill MountainGeorge Washington National Forest10,840
Mt. PleasantGeorge Washington National Forest8,933
North Fork PoundJefferson National Forest4,757
North MountainJefferson National Forest8,377
Northern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest9,444
Oak KnobGeorge Washington National Forest10,882
Peters Mountain Addition BJefferson National Forest2,909
Raccoon BranchJefferson National Forest4,388
Saint Marys AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest1,454
Seng MountainJefferson National Forest6,428
The FriarsGeorge Washington National Forest2,035
The PriestGeorge Washington National Forest5,737
Three RidgesGeorge Washington National Forest4,745
West Virginia (4)
AreaForestAcres
Dry ForkMonongahela National Forest657
Glady ForkMonongahela National Forest3,239
Mcgowan MountainMonongahela National Forest10,504
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
References (7)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2002a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 26. Magnoliophyta: Liliidae: Liliales and Orchidales. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxvi + 723 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  3. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  6. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
  7. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2024. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of March 4, 2024. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2203 pp.