Species Factsheets
Platanthera peramoena
Purple Fringeless Orchid
State Status: TU
PBS Status: Pennsylvania Threatened (PT)
Federal Status:
Global Rank: G5
rank interpretation
State Rank: S2
Did You Know?
The lip petal of this vibrant species is unfringed.
Description
Purple fringeless orchid (Platanthera peramoena) is a short plant, 30cm-1m tall, bearing loose inflorescences (spikes) of violet to pink flowers. It is thought to be adapted for pollination by daylight-active lepidoptera (moths and butterflies).
Rank Justification
Imperiled in the nation or state because of rarity due to very restricted range, very few populations (often 20 or fewer), steep declines, or other factors making it very vulnerable to extirpation from the nation or state.
Habitat
The purple fringeless orchid grows in open, swampy places – along roads, in forest openings and meadows, and near vernal pools, preferring acidic soil.
Survey Dates
Flowers July - August
Distribution
Threats
The orchid's restricted habitat has made it vulnerable to changing land use and forest harvesting or management practices. Changes to its forest habitat have contributed to the species' critically imperiled status across the east-ern seaboard and into the southeast of the United States.
Management
The purple fringeless orchid will benefit most from habitat protection. Forest management strategies should avoid disturbing known populations of the orchid, and forest land containing marshes or vernal pools should be preserved against human interference.
Conservation Status Map
NatureServe. 2017. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org.
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PLPE
- NatureServe. 2018. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available at https://www.natureserve.org/explorer
- Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. 2018.
- Rhoads, A.F. and W.M. Klein, Jr. 1993. The Vascular Flora of Pennsylvania. American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rhoads, A.F. and T.A. Block.
- 2007. The Plants of Pennsylvania: An Illustrated Manual. 2nd edition. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
