Platanthera praeclara
Sheviak & Bowles
Western Prairie White-fringed Orchid
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
EndangeredIUCN
UnknownThreat Impact
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.159130
Element CodePMORC1Y0S0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNEndangered
CITESAppendix II
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderOrchidales
FamilyOrchidaceae
GenusPlatanthera
Other Common Names
Great Plains White Fringed Orchid (EN) Platanthère blanchâtre de l'Ouest (FR) Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (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 MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Biotics v1
Review Date2014-08-29
Change Date2006-10-02
Edition Date2020-03-24
Edition AuthorsRussell, C., rev. Maybury/Lenz (1996), rev. Treher (2014, 2020)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
Platanthera praeclara is a terrestrial orchid of the western Central Lowlands and eastern Great Plains of the United States and the Interior Plains of Manitoba, Canada. Published accounts and herbarium records suggest that P. praeclara was widespread and perhaps locally common prior to European settlement. There are over 200 extant occurrences but many of those are fragmented and potentially subject to inbreeding depression. It is only known from historical collections in Oklahoma and South Dakota. Declines are due to the extensive and on-going conversion of the tallgrass prairie to agricultural lands throughout the range. Present day threats include fire suppression, development, invasive plants species, altered hydrology, and incompatible agricultural practices (herbicide, overgrazing, intensive hay mowing).
Range Extent Comments
Platanthera praeclara occurs in the Red River Valley of northern Minnesota, south in the Great Plains through the eastern Dakotas, central Nebraska, eastern Kansas, and northeastern Oklahoma; eastward through southern Minnesota, Iowa, and northern Missouri and in Manitoba. The eastern limit roughly corresponds to the Mississippi River (Watson, 1989; Bowles and Duxbury, 1986).
Occurrences Comments
There are over 200 occurrences known but not all have been surveyed in recent years. While there are a large number of occurrences, they tend to be fragmented, putting them at risk of inbreeding depression (Ross and Travers 2016).
Threat Impact Comments
The species is threatened by conversion of habitat to croplands, overgrazing, exotic species, intensive hay mowing, drainage, altered hydrology, and fire suppression. Potential threats include collecting and the use of herbicides and also fertilizers.
Ecology & Habitat
Description
A perennial orchid that usually grows to a height of 40 to 85 cm (15 to 35 inches). Plants usually have only one stem, which is thick and fleshy. There are 5 to 10 leaves per stem, with the ones near the bottom of the stem are 9 to 15 cm (3 to 6 inches) long and 1.5 to 3.5 cm (0.5 to 1.3 inches) wide, while the ones near the top are smaller. A stem has one flowering spike which can have up to 30 white flowers, though 4 to 10 flowers is most common. Each flower has a deeply fringed lip that is divided into three segments, and a nectar spur that extends from the back of the flower and has a noticable resevoir of nectar at the bottom. In Manitoba, this species blooms from late June through mid-July.
Diagnostic Characteristics
Similar in appearance to P. leucophaea but growing west of the Mississippi River. Generally fewer, but larger flowers than P. leucophaea and column larger with caudicles diverging instead of parallel. In Manitoba, P. praeclara is not easily confused with other species; P. is similar except the flowers are pink or purple.
Habitat
This species is most commonly found in full sun on moist to wet calcareous (calcium-rich, or alkaline) tallgrass prairies and sedge meadows (many flooded for 1-2 weeks per year). It most often grows in relatively undisturbed grassland, but can also be found in moderately disturbed sites such as roadside ditches.
Reproduction
Some evidence of vegetative reproduction (plants growing very close to each other), but based on examination of below ground structures vegetative reproduction is probably a rare event and relatively unimportant.
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceous
Palustrine Habitats
TEMPORARY POOL
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN1
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Manitoba | S1 | Yes |
United StatesN3
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | S1 | Yes |
| Kansas | S1 | Yes |
| North Dakota | S2 | Yes |
| Nebraska | S2 | Yes |
| Minnesota | S1 | Yes |
| Oklahoma | SH | Yes |
| South Dakota | SH | Yes |
| Iowa | S2 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Residential & commercial development | Unknown | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 2 - Agriculture & aquaculture | Unknown | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Unknown | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 2.3 - Livestock farming & ranching | Unknown | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 5 - Biological resource use | Restricted - small | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 5.2 - Gathering terrestrial plants | Restricted - small | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 7 - Natural system modifications | Large (31-70%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 7.1 - Fire & fire suppression | Large (31-70%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 7.2 - Dams & water management/use | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 9 - Pollution | Large (31-70%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluents | Large (31-70%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, Long-lived
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (41)
Colorado (5)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Comanche Peak Adjacent Area | Arapaho & Roosevelt NFs | 44,158 |
| Dome Peak | Routt NF | 35,716 |
| Long Park | Routt NF | 42,100 |
| Troublesome South | Routt NF | 47,359 |
| Williams Fork Ptarmingan Adjacent | Arapaho & Roosevelt NFs | 36,351 |
Idaho (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek | Caribou-Targhee National Forest | 118,582 |
South Dakota (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Creek | Buffalo Gap National Grassland | 24,666 |
Texas (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek | National Forests in Texas | 1,447 |
Wyoming (26)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Mountain | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 9,440 |
| Bridger Peak | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 6,697 |
| Buffalo Peak | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 17,560 |
| Campbell Lake | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 7,088 |
| Cow Creek Mountain | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 8,276 |
| Deep Creek | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 6,411 |
| East Fork Encampment | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 7,445 |
| Encampment River Addition | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 4,996 |
| French Creek | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 5,928 |
| Gunnysack | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 12,890 |
| Illinois Creek | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 6,711 |
| Labonte Canyon | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 16,281 |
| Laramie Peak | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 28,608 |
| Libby Flats | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 11,107 |
| Middle Fork | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 13,238 |
| Middle Fork | Shoshone National Forest | 51,772 |
| Mowry Peak | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 6,244 |
| Pass Creek | Shoshone National Forest | 6,172 |
| Pennock Mountain | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 9,599 |
| Platte River Addition | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 7,962 |
| Rock Creek | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 18,874 |
| Savage Run Addition | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 2,368 |
| Sheep Mountain | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 17,626 |
| Snowy Range | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 29,660 |
| Soldier Creek | Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest | 5,997 |
| West Slope Winds | Bridger-Teton National Forest | 143,252 |
References (11)
- Borkowsky, C., and A.R. Westwood. 2009. Seed capsule production in the endangered Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (<i>Platanthera praeclara</i>) in relation to sphinx moth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) activity. Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 63(2):110-117.
- Bowles, M.L., and A. Duxbury. 1986. Report on the status of Platanthera praeclara Sheviak and Bowles in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Unpublished report prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, Colorado. 42 pp. + appendices.
- Catling, P.M., and V.R. Brownell. 1987. New and significant vascular plant records for Manitoba. Canadian Field-Naturalist 101(3): 437-439.
- 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.
- 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.
- Ross, A.A., and S.E. Travers. 2016. The genetic consequences of rarity in the western prairie fringed orchid (<i>Platanthera praeclara</i>). Conservation Genetics 17:69–76.
- Sheviak, C.J., and M.L. Bowles. 1986. The prairie fringed orchids: A pollinator-isolator species pair. Rhodora 88: 267-290.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1989. Determination of threatened status for eastern and western prairie fringed orchids. Federal Register 54(187): 39857-39862.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1995. Draft Platanthera praeclara (western prairie fringed orchid) recovery plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota.
- Watson, L.E. 1989. Status survey of Platanthera praeclara, western white fringed prairie orchid, in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, Norman. 6 pp.
- Weakley, A.S. 2020. Flora of the Southeastern United States. 20 October 2020 Edition. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.