Fringed Orchid Flowers

There are various fringed flowers and one of them is the Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platanthera praeclara).

Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platanthera praeclara)
Status:
The present status is that it is threatened as per the 54 FR 39857; September 28, 1989. Its critical habitat has not been designated yet.

Description:
The western prairie fringed orchid usually arises from a fleshy tuber. It generally grows from 1.25 to 3 feet tall (38-85 cm). Each of these plants can have up to two dozen or more flowers arranged in a stalk. The western prairie fringed orchid is distinguished from the eastern prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera leucophaea) due to its slightly larger flowers, petal shape, and longer nectar spur.

Life History:
The western prairie fringed orchid is often a long-lived perennial. It emerges in the month of May and blooms in the month of June or in July further north. These flowers are fragrant at night and are pollinated by large sphinx moths.

Habitat:
The western prairie fringed orchid is a plant belongs to the tallgrass prairie and requires direct sunlight for growth. It is mostly found in the moist habitats or sedge meadows. The Western prairie fringed orchids have persisted in the areas that have been lightly grazed, periodically burned, or regularly mowed. It is not yet understood how these activities affect the survival of the plant. It may be due to the removal of dead grass mulch is beneficial, but heavy grazing is detrimental.

Distribution:
Historically, the western prairie fringed orchid was first found in tallgrass prairies west of the Mississippi River. It also occurred from extreme southern Canada south to northeast Oklahoma. In Oklahoma as per the historical records of 1975, exist for Craig and Rogers Counties. Currently, extant populations of the orchid are also found in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and North Dakota.

Causes of Decline:
The major factor for the decline of the western prairie fringed orchid has been the conversion of native prairie to croplands. Fire suppression, overgrazing, and habitat fragmentation also have contributed majorly to the decline of the species.

Other information:
The western prairie fringed orchid was described as a distinct species, separate from the eastern prairie fringed orchid in 1986. Both of them are threatened species.

Related posts:

1. Ghost Orchids - The scientific name of ghost orchid is Epipogium aphyllum. It is also known as spurred coral-root. Facts about Ghost Orchids:...
2. Types of Orchids - The estimates of orchid vary on the number of orchid species. Whatever the estimate one uses, the orchid family is...
3. African Orchids - The orchid family is one of the largest families in the flowering plants kingdom. It has more than 20,000 species...
4. What Is The Easiest Orchid To Grow - Orchids generally have a reputation for being very fussy plants. In order to cultivate them successfully, one must meet their...
5. Purple Orchids - Scientific name: Orchis mascula Most of the orchids found in Britain are quite rare, but purple orchids are relatively common....