ELEMENT STEWARDSHIP ABSTRACT FOR PLATANTHERA INTEGRA November 29, 1990 Stewardship Abstract No.: 012 By Alfred E. Schuyler For: State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy Division of Parks and Forestry Office of Natural Lands Management CN 404 Trenton, New Jersey 08625 Element Stewardship Abstract Element Stewardship Abstracts (ESA's) are prepared to provide land managers and other conservation workers with current biological and management related information on those species and natural ecosystems that are most important to protect or for which control is most needed. The abstracts organize and summarize data from numerous sources, including the literature and from researchers and managers actively working with the species or ecosystem. The ESA format was originally developed by The Nature Conservancy as a starting point for the stewardship of the many species and ecosystems, or elements, protected by the Conservancy. The New Jersey Office of Natural Lands Management is developing ESA's for those elements that are of particular importance as components of the biota of the state. This includes globally rare plant species that are also listed on New Jersey's official Endangered Plant Species List. The ESA serves several important functions. It helps to identify information gaps and target future research efforts. It provides a standard format for highlighting specific information about a species or community including its management needs. It also allows information to be readily communicated among various preserves, state offices, regional centers, natural heritage programs and private organizations. The ESA is a dynamic document that is continuously updated as new information becomes available. Users are encouraged to contribute their information to the abstract. This sharing of information will benefit all land managers by ensuring the availability of up-to-date information on management techniques and knowledgeable contacts. Please contact the Office of Natural Lands Management for an ESA publication list. It will contain the date of the latest revision to each ESA. Please refer to the abstract number when ordering ESA's. The abstract is a compilation of available information and is not an endorsement of particular practices or products. Element Name:PLATANTHERA INTEGRA (Nutt.) Gray ex Beck Element Code:PMORC1YOCO Preparer:Alfred E. Schuyler Common Name:Yellow Fringeless Orchid description: Habit: perennial herb with an erect stem bearing narrow sheathing leaves and a compact terminal raceme of yellow-orange flowers. Roots: fleshy, tuberous, swollen near base of stem. Stem: angled, up to 0.6 m tall. Leaves: alternate, sheathing stem, 1 or 2 lower leaves narrowly ovate-oblong, up to 20 cm long and 3 cm wide, acuminate, upper leaves abruptly reduced to slender bracts. Inflorescence: conical to cylindric, up to 10.5 cm long and 3.5 cm wide, densely flowered. Floral bracts divergent, narrowly ovate to subulate, up to 1.7 cm long. Flowers: yellow-orange. Dorsal sepal elliptic to circular, up to 4 mm long and 3 mm wide. Lateral sepals ovate-elliptic, up to 5 mm long and 4 mm wide. Petals elliptic-oblong, up to 4 mm long and about 2 mm wide. Lip elliptic-oblong, margin crenulate to rarely entire, slender basal spur up to 6 mm long. Column small, about 1 mm long and 2 mm wide. Fruit: capsule horizontal, elliptic, about 10 mm long and 3 mm wide. Distinctions from Related Species: readily distinguished by its yellow-orange flowers having an entire, or nearly entire, lip. Related species with yellow flowers, such as Platanthera ciliaris, have conspicuously fringed lips. Habitat: Platanthera integra occurs on the Atlantic Coastal Plain from New Jersey south to northern central Florida and west to Louisiana (Fernald, 1950; Godfrey and Wooten, 1979; Holmes, 1983). Its range is disjunct to the interior of Tennessee where it has been reported from seven counties (Sutter, Frantz, and McCarthy, 1987). There also is a disjunction in its range between southern New Jersey and eastern North Carolina. Correll (1950) states that it "is found in decidedly acid soils of swamps, in boggy depressions in savannahs and prairies, low moist sandy pine barrens, swampy meadows and wet sandy soil of low flatwoods." Wherry (in Correll, 1950) adds that "Its requisite soil is permanently moist, sandy, rich in humus, and intensely acid in reaction." In New Jersey it is restricted to the Pine Barrens where habitats have been described as savannas and bogs (Fables, 1954; NJNHP, 1989a). Fox (1913) reported that it grew in "a cleared boggy spot" in Cape May County. The following species have been listed as associates: Asclepias rubra, Calopogon tuberosus, Cladium mariscoides, Juncus caesariensis, Lobelia canbyi and nuttallii, Narthecium americanum, Platanthera ciliaris and blephariglottis, Pogonia ophioglossoides, Polygala cruciata and sanguinea, Rhynchospora cephalantha, gracilenta, oligantha, and Pallida, Sabatia difformis, Schizaea pusilla, Sclerolepis uniflora, Spiranthes praecox, Tofieldia racemosa, and Xyris fimbriata. Biology/Ecology: Platanthera integra flowers from late July to September (Luer, 1975). The bumblebee (Bombus pennsylvanicus) has been identified as a pollinator and apparently is a barrier to hybridization with related species which have different pollinators (Luer, 1975). In New Jersey, P. integra grows in habitats that usually are perennially moist to wet and most localities are along or near streams (NJNHP, 1989a). Extremely wet or dry conditions apparently are detrimental to its growth. Fables (1954) reported finding no plants at an inundated site during an extremely wet season or the following year when the season was dry. He also reported the same for two associated species, Narthecium americanum and Tofieldia racemosa. Various other botanists have reported finding more plants present some years than other years at the same site (Moore, pers. comm., 1990; NJNHP, 1989a). Holmes (1983) suggested that P. integra possibly "flowers infrequently, needing very specific conditions to flower." In Louisiana, Holmes (1983) reports P. integra is found mainly in Sarracenia bogs. Eleuterius and Jones (1969) consider plants in these bogs such as Sarracenia alata and a number of our native bog orchids to be "dependent upon fire to maintain the open bog." Fire retards succession "toward a `sedge-woody species' dominated community." Although previously known from seven localities in New Jersey, P. integra has only been found at three of them since 1980 (NJNHP, 1989a). One of these is being overgrown by woody plants and another has been vandalized (Fables, 1963; Gordon, pers. comm., 1990; Snyder, pers. comm., 1990). Flooding by beaver activity presumably eliminated P. integra from one historic site (Snyder, pers. comm., 1990). Determination of Element Occurrence (EO) Quality: Apparently it is characteristic for populations of P. integra to vary in size from year to year (Holmes, 1983; NJNHP, 1989a), a situation that makes judging EO quality more difficult. However, the low number of extant sites in New Jersey and the potential threats of succession and vandalism to them, indicate a low EO quality. At one site where vandalism has occurred, the population size has been substantially reduced (NJNHP, 1989a). Threats: Succession and vandalism appear to be the greatest threats. Unless disturbances occur that keep sites open, P. Integra will eventually be eliminated by competing sedges and woody plants (Eleuterius and Jones, 1969). Vandalism has been documented (Gordon, pers. comm., 1990) at one New Jersey site and may occur at others if plants are found by orchid fanciers. Alteration of the water regime is another serious threat. One site in New Jersey has been flooded by beaver activity and plants have not been relocated there recently (Snyder, pers. comm., 1990). Fables (1954) reported that plants at one site had been uprooted and chewed, probably by white-tailed deer. Land Protection Specifications: Land protection should maintain a perennial wet water regime where sites are not flooded or allowed to dry for long periods of time. It may be necessary for land protection to allow disturbances that retard succession. For example, if P. integra is fire dependent, there should be a land buffer in places where sites are near developed areas. Recovery Potential: Recovery potential for P. integra probably is low. The plants are not rhizomatous and therefore not capable of spreading by asexual growth. The capacity for populations to recover by sexual reproduction is uncertain. Germination of the seeds is probably dependent on the presence of a physiologically suitable fungus, a situation that substantially limits the localities where germination can occur (Burgeff, 1959). Most recovery presumably would be from the swollen tuberous roots. However, information about capacity of these structures to produce new plants after an extended dormant period is lacking. Biological Monitoring Needs: More information is needed on fluctuations in population size and the kinds and numbers of competitors present. Further exploration is needed in areas where plants may have been overlooked. Biological Monitoring Procedures: Annual visits should be made to known sites to count the numbers of flowering and non-flowering stems present. The kinds and numbers of competitors should also be recorded. New sites should be searched where the habitats are similar to those at known sites. Biological Monitoring Programs: David Snyder and Ted Gordon periodically visit New Jersey sites of P. integra. Research Needs: We need to know whether or not the swollen tuberous roots can remain dormant for extended time periods. The periodic absence and presence of flowering stems at a given site indicate the roots may have this capacity. More information is needed on the kinds of disturbances that would benefit P. integra by retarding succession. The role of fire needs evaluation in this regard. Management Needs: Sites where P. integra previously occurred that are overgrown with sedges and woody plants should be periodically cleared. Management Procedures: Cut woody plants and, if feasible, follow with a controlled burn of herbaceous plants at sites where P. integra previously occurred. Summary of Stewardship Needs: Platanthera integra is a disjunct species in New Jersey, the only state where it occurs north of North Carolina. It is known from seven sites in the New Jersey Pine Barrens on perennially moist to wet substrates in savannas and bogs. The number of flowering stems at a given site varies from year to year. Extremely wet or dry conditions appear detrimental to it. Disturbances, such as fire, that maintain an open bog or savanna appear beneficial. In New Jersey, P. integra is threatened by succession, vandalism, and flooding, factors responsible for eliminating and depleting known populations. Recovery potential probably is low with most reproduction presumably coming from swollen tuberous roots. Monitoring should record fluctuations in population sizes and the kinds and numbers of competitors present. New sites should be searched in areas where plants may have been overlooked. Research needs should focus on the capacity for the swollen tuberous roots to remain dormant and the role of disturbances, such as fire, in retarding succession. Sites that are overgrown with competing plants should be cleared. Cutting woody plants and burning herbaceous plants are recommended in these situations. Bibliography for Platanthera integra (nutt.) Gray ex beck: Burgeff, H. 1959. Mycorrhiza of Orchids. Pages 361-395 in C.R. Withner, ed. The Orchids, A Scientific Survey. The Ronald Press Company, New York. Correll, D.S. 1950. Native Orchids of North America. Chronica Botanica Co., Waltham. xv + 399 pp. Eleuterius, L.N. and S.B. Jones, Jr. 1969. A Floristic and Ecological Study of Pitcher Plant Bogs in South Mississippi. Rhodora 71: 29-34. Fables, D. 1954. New Stations for Habenaria integra in Burlington County, N.J. Torreya 81(4): 363-364. Fables, D. 1963. Caesarian Flora and Fauna, Number 3, Pteridophytes and Monocots. Bartonia No. 32: 7-10. Fernald, M.L. 1950. Gray's Manual of Botany. 8th ed. American Book Co., New York. lxiv + 1632 pp. Fox, H. 1913. Noteworthy Plants from Southern New Jersey-- Gymnadeniopsis integra (Nutt.) Ryd. Bartonia No. 5: 14-15. Garren, K.H. 1943. Effects of Fire on Vegetation of the Southeastern United States. Bot. Rev. 9(9): 617-654. Gleason, H.A. 1952. The New Britton and Brown Illustrated Flora of the Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, New York. 3 v. Gordon, T. 1990. Vincentown, NJ, personal communication. Holmes, W.C. 1983. The Distribution of Habenaria integra (Nutt.) Spreng. (Orchidaceae) in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Southw. Naturalist 28(4): 451-456. Kral, R. 1983. A Report on Some Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Forest-related Vascular Plants of the South. Technical Publication R8-TP 2, USDA Forest Service, Atlanta. 2 vol. Luer, C.A. 1975. The Native Orchids of the United States and Canada Excluding Florida. The New York Botanical Garden, New York. 361 pp. Moore, G. 1990. Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, personal communication. Morong, T. 1893. A New Species of Listera, with Notes on Other Orchids. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 20: 31-39. NJNHP. 1989a. Element Occurrence Summaries. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Trenton. NJNHP. 1989b. State Ranking Forms. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Trenton. Porcher, R.D., Jr. 1974. Some Notes and Distribution Records for Orchidaceae from the South Carolina Coastal Plain. J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 90(2): 73-74. Snyder, D.B. 1990. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Trenton, personal communication. Sutter, R.D., V. Frantz, and K.A. McCarthy. 1987. Atlas of Rare and Endangered Plant Species in North Carolina. North Carolina Department of Agriculture, Raleigh. iii + 174 pp.