Associate Plant Species List for the Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid in Northeastern Illinois

 

After conducting a Floristic Quality Assessment, if a site has already been determined to be high quality (FQI > or = 20, and Native Mean C > or = 3.5) then compare the plant species list from the site to the list below.  If 4 or more species from this list are present at the site, then we recommend conducting a search for the eastern prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera leucophaea, orchid hereafter) during its bloom period, approximately June 28 to July 11.

 

If 4 or more species from this list are present at the site, and at least 4 of those species have a co-efficient of conservatism of 0 or 1, then we believe the orchid is not likely to be present and we do not recommend conducting an orchid search.

 

We have noticed that in northeastern Illinois orchid populations bloom sporadically rather than all plants blooming at the same time.  Because of this pattern, and small population numbers, it is possible to conduct an orchid search and not detect orchids even when they are present.   For this reason we recommend conducting the orchid search on at least 3 non-consecutive days during its bloom period.  Using this approach, we could be more confident of negative survey results.

 

Agrostis alba – redtop
Andropogon gerardii – big bluestem
Apocynum sibiricum – prairie Indian hemp
Aster ericoides – heath aster
Aster novae-angliae – New England aster
Aster simplex – panicled aster
Carex sp.
Calamagrostis canadensis – blue joint grass
Cassia fasciculata – partridge pea
Cornus racemosa – gray dogwood
Equisetum arvense – horsetail
Eupatorium perfoliatum – common boneset
Fragaria virginiana – wild strawberry
Galium obtusum – wild madder
Gentiana puberulenta – prairie gentian
Helianthus grosseserratus – sawtooth sunflower
Iris virginica shrevei – blueflag iris
Liatris aspera – rough blazing star
Liatris spicata – marsh blazing star / gayfeather
Lycopus americanus – common water horehound
Mentha arvensis villosa – wild mint
Pycnanthemum virginiana – common mountain mint
Solidago altissima – tall goldenrod
Solidago canadensis – canada goldenrod
Solidago gigantea – late goldenrod
Solidago graminifolia nuttallii – hairy grass-leaved goldenrod
Sorghastrum nutans – Indian grass
Tradescantia ohiensis – common spiderwort

 

Citations:
Dufrene, M. & P. Legendre.  1997.  Species assemblages and indicator species: the need for a flexible asymmetrical approach. Ecological Monographs 67:345-366.

 

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region, 4th ed. Indiana Academy of Science, Indianapolis. 921pp

 

USFWS 2009.  Unpublished data from MS thesis. Restoration of the Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platanthera leucophaea): Natural Pollinators and the Abundance of Larval Host Plants by Cathy Pollack.

 

Back to Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid S7 Guidance page

 

Step 1 of the Section 7 Process

 

Section 7 Technical Assistance

 

Home

 

Last updated: October 24, 2012