August's Featured Wisconsin Endangered Species: Prairie White-Fringed Orchid

I chose the prairie white-fringed orchid, Platanthera leucophaea, for my August Wisconsin endangered species because it ends flowering and fruits in August. What interests me most about orchids are their great popularity with us humans and their unique ecological relationships with other species.

One of the reasons orchids are so popular is that they’re the dogs of the plant world – they are the second biggest family of flowering plants, with 725 genera and 10,000 to 15,000 different species. Because they are easily hybridized, they can look strikingly different from one another (some look as if they come from another world!), and some are easy to grow and care for.

1. The prairie white-fringed orchid is one of the largest and showiest native North American orchids. Experience it for yourself at these websites: http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PLLE2, for a lovely feathery photo and http://www.orchidconservationcoalition.org/pr/bluestempleucophaea.html for a stunning close up. My drawing is based on this photo http://www.ojibway.ca/orchids.htm Read a more detailed description of the prairie white-fringed orchid here http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=PLALEU To get a handle on its taxonomy and North American distribution, go here
http://plants.usda.gov/java/stateSearch?searchTxt=prairie+white+fringed+orchid&searchType=Comname&stateSelect=US55&searchOrder=2&imageField.x=82&imageField.y=10 and for its distribution in Wisconsin, http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/biodiversity/index.asp?mode=info&Grp=20&SpecCode=PMORC1Y0F0.

2. These orchids rely on the nocturnal hawkmoth (Sphingidae http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/WIsphinx.htm - these are impressive in their own right) for pollination in order to reproduce, and their flowers are fragrant at night to accommodate them. The orchids rely on fungus living in the soil to become established in the soil and grow. Once the orchids have leaves, they aid the fungus as well! Adult orchids don’t have well-developed root systems and require these mycorrhizae for water and nutrition, especially when they’re under stress.

3. Why is this species endangered? It has declined in the US by more than 70%, mainly due to habitat loss for cropland and pasture. The remaining orchids are primarily threatened by continued habitat loss, specifically alteration of hydrology, fire protection, and development, as well as non-native species, illegal collection, herbicide drift and. possibly pesticides which may harm the hawkmoth

4. Which management practices can help these species survive? Restoration of mesic prairie through proper water (no ditching or draining and restoring water table levels) and fire management is essential. To this end, invasive and woody species must be removed for they dry out the habitat and prescribed burning is needed for seedling establishment and favorable fungus growth.

5. Read about how the WI DNR in partnership with private citizens and our own Madison Audubon Society have come together to save this orchid.

Two projects, both in Rock County under the Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) - the Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid and the Tallgrass Farm Projects, adjacent to privately owned Fair Meadows State Natural Area, contain one of Wisconsin’s largest populations of the prairie white- fringed orchid, which has become even more numerous under this collaborative management http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/wlip/projects/rock.htm and http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/sna/index.asp?SNA=416 .
On the Orchid Project site, LIP funds invasive tree and brush removal, herbicide treatment of reed canary grass, and prescribed burning. A section 6 grant helps with permanent protection. The landowner contributes time and personal equipment. A follow-up management plan, specific monitoring and project evaluation criteria are included. Mesic prairie is being restored in former agricultural fields and apple orchards.
The Tallgrass site is managed through controlled burns, brush clearing, invasive weed control, stewardship, and increasing diversity by seeding and planting native plants.

The WI DNR and Madison Audubon Society have collaborated at two sites, the Faville Grove Sanctuary and Snapper Prairie. At Faville Grove, MAS acquired 265 acres and has been restoring the hydrology and plant communities of more than half of those acres. MAS has worked with NRCS to fill ditches and artificial drainage swales. LIP is funding tree and brush removal along the former fence lines, buying local genotype seed, and mowing and herbicide to control invasive species. MAS is providing a 37% match of volunteer on-site by hand seed collection and planting of more than 100 native species, weed control, and prescribed burns.
At Snapper Prairie, MAS acquired 265 acres and has been restoring the hydrology and plant communities. LIP is funding tree and brush removal along the property line and weeding, mowing, and herbicide to control invasive species. MAS is providing a 36% match through volunteer labor for on-site by hand seed collection and backseeding of more than 100 native species, and weed control. Find details here (the 4th & 5th projects) http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/wlip/projects/jefferson.htm and at MAS’s website http://madisonaudubon.org/audubon/html/sanctuaries.htm

To learn about and see how prairie white-fringed orchid seeds are germinated as a way to conserve them, read this interesting account by a WI DNR employee, who then plants them on his farm, where he is doing a prairie restoration http://www.orchidconservationcoalition.org/pr/bluestempleucophaea.html .

If you’re tempted to grow this orchid on your own property, look here http://dnr.wi.gov/wnrmag/html/stories/2001/jun01/orchids.htm , and get an idea of an orchid’s very exacting habitat requirements for soil, fungi, light and moisture. If you’re lucky enough that your habitat meets these requirements, plant on!

A non-profit conservation group, the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, funds projects through its WI Foundation Endowment http://www.wisconservation.org/index.php?page=Endowed_Funds. The Koshkonong Corners SNA Fund was created by John Van Altena and Connie Brouillette, partly to fund the management of land supporting the prairie white-fringed orchid.

6. What can you do to help? Educate friends and family! Oppose development and support protection and proper management of white fringed prairie habitat! Volunteer! Support the organizations that disseminate important information about this species and help protect this species, such as the Center for Plant Conservation, which is responsible for much of the info on my blog http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/ASP/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=3520 (donate here: http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/SupportCPC.html )as well as the very informative http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Platanthera+leuc ophaea (donate here: http://www.natureserve.org/supportUs/index.jsp ). Also support and learn more about the American Orchid Society http://www.aos.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=About and its conservation efforts. Get involved with the WI Natural Resources Foundation http://www.wisconservation.org/
Support your WI DNR http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/support/how_you_can_help.htm and your Madison Audubon Society http://madisonaudubon.org/audubon/html/join.htm in their mission to save the prairie white-fringed orchid.

Help save the world!