Platanthera praeclara Sheviak & M.L. Bowles
Great Plains White Fringed Orchid, Western Prairie Fringed Orchid
Facts About
Accepted Synonyms: Blephariglottis praeclara, Fimbriella praeclara, Habenaria leucophaea var. praeclara
Platanthera praeclara, the Western Prairie Fringed Orchid, is distributed in the midwest United States and Canada, from Oklahoma to Manitoba. It produces 2-5 basal and lower stem leaves, which are present at the time of flowering. The inflorescence has 10-24 creamy white colored flowers with petals that form a hood over the column. The labellum is deeply fringed, with three distinct lobes and a long thin nectar spur. The flowers of this orchid are about 25-30% larger than those of P. leucophaea. It can be found in open wet prairies, plains, and fens.
Platanthera praeclara is considered globally imperiled and is listed as federally threatened and is rare or presumed extirpated throughout most of its range.
Pollination
This orchid is pollinated by a variety of moths such as Eumorpha achemon, Hyles euphorbiae, Hyles gallii, Hyles lineata, Paratrea plebeja, Sphinx drupiferarum and Sphinx kalmiae. The moth probes the nectar spur with its proboscis. While drinking nectar, pollinia are placed on the compound eyes of the moth then transferred to a subsequent flower it visits.
Ecosystem Type
Fens, prairie
Characteristics
- Habitat:
- terrestrial
- Leaf arrangement:
- alternate
- Number of leaves on stem:
-
- two
- three
- four
- five
- Form of the labellum:
- the labellum is not pouch-like
- Labellum outline:
-
- the labellum is fringed
- the labellum is lobed
- Main color of labellum:
- white
- Nectar spur:
- present
- Inflorescence type:
- the inflorescence is a raceme
- Labellum characteristics:
-
- the labellum has a spur
- the labellum is fringed
- the labellum is lobed
- Labellum length:
- 20–39 mm
Native to North America
Yes
North American Conservation Status & Distribution
Conservation Status
| Conservation and Wetland Status | |
|---|---|
| Global Rank | Imperiled |
| US Status | Listed Threatened |
| Canadian Status | Endangered |