Western Prairie Fringed Orchid
Often overlooked, the iconic Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platanthera leucophaea) hides in plain sight. With a fondness for moist places, the showy orchid can be found in ditches along roadway. This means drivers fly by on the road near Lisbon in the Sheyenne National Grassland and won’t even notice the treasure in the ditch.
This iconic flower reaches the peak of its blooming around July 4th which seems appropriate because the blossom does have an exploding fireworks appearance. Interestingly, it is most fragrant at night and totally dependent on the Hawkmoth for pollination. FYI: The hawkmoth was introduced as a biocontrol to limit the spread of the Leafy spurge.
The Western Prairie Fringed Orchid is a long-lived perennial. It emerges in May and blooms in July. The flowers are fragrant at night. it is a plant of the tallgrass prairie and requires direct sunlight for growth. It is most often found in moist habitats or sedge meadows. this flower has persisted in areas that have been lightly grazed, periodically burned, or regularly mowed. It is not yet understood how these activities affect plant survival. It may be that removal of dead grass mulch is beneficial, but heavy grazing is detrimental.
The Western Prairie Fringed Orchid is a mysterious, whimsical plant. Agriculture has depleted the orchid’s tallgrass prairie habitat and is classified as “threatened.” Which means look but don’t touch this iconic of prairie plant.
Close-up view Western Prairie Fringed Orchid
Orchid hiding in plain sight
