Platanthera leucophaea
(Nutt.) Lindl.
Eastern Prairie White-fringed Orchid
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.134537
Element CodePMORC1Y0F0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
CITESAppendix II
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderOrchidales
FamilyOrchidaceae
GenusPlatanthera
Synonyms
Habenaria leucophaea(Nutt.) Gray
Other Common Names
Platanthère blanchâtre de l'Est (FR) prairie white fringed orchid (EN) Prairie White 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.
Taxonomic Comments
The western prairie white-fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara) is now distinguished from P. leucophaea. Platanthera leucophaea is primarily east of the Mississippi River and P. praeclara is essentially west of that river.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2014-05-28
Change Date2008-10-31
Edition Date2014-05-28
Edition AuthorsS. Gottlieb (1992), EO specs and rank specs by Mike Penskar (1995), rev. L. Morse (1995), rev. Maybury/Penskar (1996), rev. Treher (2014)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
Relatively wide ranging species but many sites are extirpated (some estimates as high as 70% reduction across range). Most of this species' wet prairie habitat has been destroyed due to drainage and conversion to agriculture, fire suppression, and intensive mowing. Because of the destruction of most of the natural grasslands east of the Mississippi River, large populations no longer occur anywhere in the United States. The mostly small, isolated populations that remain are not representative of populations supported by the once-vast prairie habitat. Because of fire suppression and changes in hydrology remaining sites require active management. As of 2010 with active management, 78% of populations are stable or increasing. However, 83% have severe to moderate management needs.
Range Extent Comments
Primarily east of the Mississippi River in the Great Lakes Region: Ontario south to Missouri and Illinois and east to Pennsylvania and New York, also occurs in Maine. Historic in Oklahoma and New York and extirpated in Pennsylvania.
Occurrences Comments
Approximately 116 extant EOs in 9 states and 1 Canadian province (NatureServe Central Database 2014). Extirpated in PA. Historical records from OK and NY. Occurrences may be delimited differently in some states and when compared to the USFWS reports. In 2010, the five-year review says that 76 sites exist (USFWS 2010).
Threat Impact Comments
Threats include drainage and ditching for crop production, commercial and residential development, grazing by cattle and deer, drought, and encroachment of woody vegetation in prairies due to fire suppression. Populations along the shores of the Great Lakes are threatened by high water levels and invasion of purple loosestrife other non-native species. Cutting hay in midsummer prevents populations from dispersing seed. Collection by orchid fanciers and wildflower gardeners is also a threat (USFWS 2010).
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Mesic to wet prairies and wet sedge meadows. Peripheral habitat includes sedge-sphagnum bog mats around neutral pH kettle lakes, and fallow agricultural fields. Wet ditches and railroad rights-of-way also serve as refugia. This species' winter-dormant tubers are adapted to dormant-season prairie fires; such fires and high precipitation levels appear to promote flowering.
Ecology
Dependent upon mycorrhizal fungus for germination and longterm success of plants. Seventy-five fungal associates have been inoculated from protocorms, seedlings and mature plants. Most (88%) belong in the genus Ceratorhiza (Zettler & Piskin 2011) supporting the hypothesis that Ceratorhiza may be an ubiquitous associate of P. leucophaea. Although the number of species associated with the species is higher than shown in previous work (Zettler et al. 2005), Zettler & Piskin (2011) notes that it shouldn't be assumed that specific strains of Ceratorhiza are equally widespread.
Terrestrial Habitats
Old field
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLANDBog/fen
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN2
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | S2 | Yes |
United StatesN2
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | S1 | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | SH | Yes |
| Iowa | S1 | Yes |
| Illinois | S1 | Yes |
| Missouri | S1 | Yes |
| Michigan | S1 | Yes |
| Ohio | S2 | Yes |
| New York | SH | Yes |
| Wisconsin | S2 | Yes |
| Virginia | SH | Yes |
| Maine | S1 | Yes |
| Oklahoma | SH | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Residential & commercial development | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High - moderate |
| 1.1 - Housing & urban areas | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High - moderate |
| 1.2 - Commercial & industrial areas | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High - moderate |
| 2 - Agriculture & aquaculture | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High - moderate |
| 2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High - moderate |
| 2.3 - Livestock farming & ranching | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High - moderate |
| 5 - Biological resource use | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 5.2 - Gathering terrestrial plants | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 7 - Natural system modifications | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High - moderate |
| 7.1 - Fire & fire suppression | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 7.2 - Dams & water management/use | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High - moderate |
| 8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 8.2 - Problematic native species/diseases | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 11 - Climate change & severe weather | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 11.1 - Habitat shifting & alteration | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Idaho (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek | Caribou-Targhee National Forest | 118,582 |
References (12)
- Bowles, M.L. 1983. The tallgrass orchids Platanthera leucophaea (Nutt.) Lindl. and Cypripedium candidum Muhl. ex Willd., and implications toward management. Natural Areas J. 3(4): 14-37.
- Bowles, M.L. 1993. Draft federal recovery plan for Platanthera leucophaea. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 3, Endangered Species Office, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- 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.
- Luer, C.A. 1975. The native orchids of the United States and Canada excluding Florida. New York Botanical Garden. 361 pp.
- Piskin, K.A., S.L. Stewart, J.J. Hartsock, M.L. Bowles, and T.J. Bell. 2005. Protocorm mycobionts of the Federally threatened Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid, <i>Platanthera leucophaea </i>(Nutt.) Lindley, and a technique to prompt leaf elongation in seedlings. Studies Mycology 53:163-171<i>.</i>
- Sheviak, C. 1974. An introduction to the ecology of the Illinois Orchidaceae. Illinios State Museum, Springfield, IL. 89p.
- 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). 1999. Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid (<i>Platanthera leucophaea</i>) Recovery Plan. Fort Snelling, Minnesota. 62pp.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2010. Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platanthera leucophaea) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chicago Illinois Field Office Barrington, Illinois. Online. Available: http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc3273.%20prairie%20fringed%20orchid_Final%20081610.pdf
- Zanoni, T.A., J.L. Gentry, Jr., R.J. Tyrl and P.G. Risser. 1979. Endangered and threatened plants of Oklahoma. Univ. of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State Univ., Norman. 64 pp.
- Zettler, L.W., and K.A. Piskin. 2011. Mycorrhizal Fungi from Protocorms, Seedlings and Mature Plants of the Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid, <i>Platanthera leucophaea</i> (Nutt.) Lindley: A Comprehensive List to Augment Conservation. The American Midland Naturalist 166(1):29-39.