Home/Species/ Shriver's Frilly Orchid

Platanthera shriveri

P.M. Brown

Shriver's Frilly Orchid

G1Critically Imperiled Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank

UnknownThreat Impact

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.821738

Element CodePMORC1Y1D0

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicendemic to a single nation

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassMonocotyledoneae

OrderOrchidales

FamilyOrchidaceae

GenusPlatanthera

Other Common Names

Shriver's Purple Fringed Orchid (EN)

Concept Reference

Brown, P. M., C. Smith and J. S. Shriver. 2008. A new fringed Platanthera (Orchidaceae) from the Central Appalachian Mountains of Eastern North America. North American Native Orchid Journal 14(4): 239-253.

Taxonomic Comments

Newly described in 2008, this species differs from the related P. grandiflora in its later flowering; inflorescence with more open appearance; flowers having longer ovaries, longer spurs, and deeper fringing; and fringed lip with a more concave shape (Brown et al. 2008). It is superficially similar to P. x keenanii, but exhibits subtle morphological differences from that taxon. Brown et al. (2008) hypothesize that P. shriveri may represent a distinct species of ancient hybrid origin (P. grandiflora x P. lacera), which superficially resembles, but differs significantly from, the rare, local, short-lived contemporary hybrid P. x keenanii with the same putative parents.

Conservation Status

Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x

Review Date2015-01-14

Change Date2009-03-11

Edition Date2015-01-14

Edition AuthorsTreher

Threat ImpactUnknown

Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)

Number of Occurrences6 - 20

Rank Reasons

Rare orchid of the central Appalachian Mountains. Extant but rare in Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina; historical in Pennsylvania.

Range Extent Comments

Occurs in the central Appalachian mountains of West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and historically, Pennsylvania (Brown et al. 2008). Found in Maryland in 2011 (Knapp et al., 2011). Reported but not confirmed in Quebec.

Occurrences Comments

Two EOs in VA, 1 in NC, 8 in WV, and a historic site in PA (Brown et al. 2008 and NatureServe Central Database 2015).

Threat Impact Comments

At least six occurrences are at roadside sites and could be threatened by road maintenance.

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Partial to full shade of damp, open, mixed deciduous and coniferous woods, often along seepage springs or streams, or on roadside banks amid mosses, ferns, grasses, sedges, and/or nettles in mountains. 850-1450 m (Brown et al. 2008).

Terrestrial Habitats

Forest/WoodlandForest - MixedForest EdgeWoodland - Mixed

Palustrine Habitats

HERBACEOUS WETLANDFORESTED WETLANDRiparian

Other Nations (1)

United StatesN1

Province	Rank	Native
West Virginia	S1	Yes
Maryland	S1	Yes
Pennsylvania	SNR	Yes
North Carolina	S1	Yes
Virginia	S1	Yes

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
4 - Transportation & service corridors	Large (31-70%)	Unknown	High (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroads	Large (31-70%)	Unknown	High (continuing)

Plant Characteristics

DurationPERENNIAL

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (2)

New Hampshire (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Kilkenny	White Mountain National Forest	28,766

West Virginia (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Mcgowan Mountain	Monongahela National Forest	10,504

References (4)

Brown, P. M., C. Smith and J. S. Shriver. 2008. A new fringed <i>Platanthera</i> (Orchidaceae) from the Central Appalachian Mountains of Eastern North America. North American Native Orchid Journal 14(4): 239-253.
Knapp, W.M., R.F.C. Naczi, W.D. Longbottom, C.A. Davis, W.A. McAvoy, C.T. Frye, J.W. Harrison, and P. Stango. 2011. Floristic discoveries in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Phytoneuron 2011-64: 1-26.
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.
Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2023. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of April 14, 2023. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2105 pp.

Platanthera shriveri

Habitat

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