Features: The Eastern Prairie Fringed-orchid (Platanthera leucophaea) is an impressive flowering plant that grows in swamps and wet tall grass prairie. It produces large flowers (up to 3 cm wide) that are white and have the characteristic "lip," which serves as a landing platform for pollinating insects. Each flower has a very deep "nectar spur" that contains lots of nectar, and which only large insects such as Hawkmoths with long probosci can reach into. Flowers open sequentially, starting from the bottom of the stalk, and last for about ten days. A large plant may have flowers for a total of three weeks. The orchid seeds are almost dust-like and they are produced in huge numbers, but germination and seedling growth depend critically on the presence of special fungi in the soil.

Status: Endangered Provincially and Nationally

Range: The species ranges from Ontario south to Illinois and Kansas, and west to Nebraska. In Ontario, there are about 20 small populations in remnant prairie habitat in Bruce, Essex and Lambton counties, and in Tamarack swamps in the Bruce Peninsula and Ottawa area. Range Maps

Threats: The species was probably quite common in the prairies of Walpole Island and the St. Clair River region but much of this habitat has been converted to farmland. In addition, the suppression of fire, which is essential for keeping suitable areas open for the plant and also stimulates flowering, has contributed to declines.

Protection: Most populations are on public land where they receive limited protection. Only the plants in the Windsor Prairie are managed. The Eastern Prairie Fringed-orchid is listed under Ontario's Endangered Species Act, 2007, which protects the species from being killed, harmed, possessed, collected or sold. International trade in orchids or their parts is controlled under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).).

For more information on the Eastern Prairie fringed-orchid, view the fact sheet on the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Species at Risk Website.

Text Sources: Brownell and Catling 2000; Brownell 1986

Last Modified Date: July 2010