Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.132962
Element CodePMORC0C030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
CITESAppendix II
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderOrchidales
FamilyOrchidaceae
GenusCalopogon
Other Common Namespale grasspink (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, 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 Date2024-12-20
Change Date2024-12-20
Edition Date2024-12-19
Edition AuthorsNordman, C. (2024).
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank ReasonsPale Grass-pink (Calopogon pallidus) occurs in eastern North America, in the southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States, from southeastern Virginia south to Florida and west to southeastern Louisiana. It is estimated that there are between 81 and 300 occurrences rangewide including on several National Forests, several National Wildlife Refuges and on various state and private conservation lands. It is threatened by land-use conversion, habitat fragmentation, and certain forest management practices, and is especially vulnerable to succession and forest canopy closure associated with lack of (prescribed) fire. Collection of wild orchids for trade is considered a threat, much of this trade is the result of illegal harvest. The application of prescribed fire on conservation lands, such as National Forests has likely contributed to increased flowering, seed production and recruitment of these wild orchids on those lands.
Range Extent CommentsPale Grass-pink (Calopogon pallidus) occurs in eastern North America, it is endemic to the southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States, from southeastern Virginia south to the Florida Peninsula and west to southeastern Louisiana. Range extent was estimated to be 673000 square kilometers, using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1993 and 2024 (FNA 2002, GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, POWO 2024, SEINet 2024, Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy 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 between 81 and 300 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsPale Grass-pink (Calopogon pallidus) is threatened by land-use conversion, habitat fragmentation, and certain forest management practices; it is especially vulnerable to succession and forest canopy closure associated with lack of (prescribed) fire (Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project 2002). Collection of wild plants for trade is considered a threat to wild orchids, much of this trade is the result of illegal harvest (Hinsley et al. 2018).