Liparis loeselii is an inconspicuous orchid found in states and provinces throughout the northeastern half of North America. However, it is listed as a species of conservation concern in seven states, and most occurences of the species are from areas around the Great Lakes and New England states. Although most of the documented habitats from which Liparis loeselii is known are calcareous wetlands (such as fens, pannes, sedge meadows, marshes, marly lake margins, forested seeps, and wet peaty or sandy meadows), it is sometimes found in the more acidic conditions of bogs, and it also occurs in previously open and disturbed areas that are naturally becoming reforested. Such is the case on our property.
For my account of finding this species on our property, see my recent post at Through Handlens and Binoculars.
This orchid grows, a few of them at least, in a restored tallgrass prairie in an area where the vegetation easily reaches 8 feet tall. It's a surprisingly tough little plant although seldome noticed.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Scott, on finding another orchid on your property! This is not an easy plant to find anywhere!
ReplyDeletePhytophactor, just curious... where (state) is the site you mention, what are the soils, and is it ever wet? Do you know what the site was before it was whatever it was before being planted to prairie?
ReplyDeleteThanks Keith. I owe it all to Bootypants.
ReplyDeleteNice to see a native orchid returning to an area like this. To me it’s another example of our planet being able to heal itself if we just would leave it alone. As orchids have a symbiotic relationship with fungus, it’s also a sign that the mycoflora of this old field is healthy. In your post on the other blog you mentioned that this is an old hog pasture. I’ve been told by mushroom hunters that morels are never found on land that used to be a pig pen. Don’t have any direct experience with that but it wouldn’t surprise me if that’s true, hogs rooting around doesn’t sound like it oughta be good for mycorrhizal fungi.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Nick... it's nice to see native plants coming back. I would think that mycorrhizal fungi and other subsurface microorganisms could eventually return to even a hog pasture if there are unimpacted sources nearby, but that's just an uneducated guess. We are across from a state park; I can't help but think that the proximity to a "natural" area benefits our property.
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