Table Of Content

Long Island Botanical Society Vol. 23 No. 1 The Quarterly Newsletter Winter2013 A Brief Survey of Long Island Orchids David Taft, East Northport, NY ([email protected]) [Ed. Note. — All orchid images in “valuable” environmental status this article were photographed to a less valuable one, the orchids on Long Island by the author. reduced to unfortunate hangers- Creating a theme for this issue on. I would also add that many of the newsletter, Eric Lamont species of orchids specialize in has contributed a summary continued unchanged conditions, of recent Long Island orchid and obviously do not thrive when sightings, beginning on page 3.] competition increases, or clearing introduces increased light levels. Over the last two dozen years or Orchids often play the role of more, Fve set out to identify the canaries in the coal mine, however locations andremainingspecies of it is important to point out that orchids found within New York their predicament is also not a City and the greater metropolitan total loss; much can be learned by area. Geologically speaking, the studyingtheirdistributionpatterns. two boroughs of Brooklyn and Figure 1. Cypripediumacaule(PinkLadies’Slipper) It is wise not to “write-off” areas QueensarepartsofLongIsland,a of urbanization, as the issues factthatseemslostonresidents onbothsides of the Queens/ associatedwithcrowdingof naturalresourcesareever-present, Nassau border. The greater metropolitan area also includes and the necessity for us as a society to work out the complex the rest of Long Island, Westchester and Putnam counties, balancebetweenhumandemands andnaturalresourcesis ever parts of the Catskills andmuch of NewJersey. Development morecritical. Issuessuchasincreasingdemandforrecreational pressures,pollution,misuse ofland,andotherissuesinfluence access, direct protection of valuable resources, historic uses, theparticularplantsfound,andtheirabundance. Ironically,the non-native and native invasives, and simple education, are all “open” areas in the outer parts of the region may be more local and global issues when examined closely. Exacerbating threatened than those within NewYork City where many of this, as an island. Long Island is a contained system, with the debates about conservation efforts and proper land use finite resources. The loss of species locally may mean their havebeenresolved, forbetterorworse. permanentloss unless seeds orothermeans of reintroduction areavailable. Inshort,if thereis anythingIhavelearnedinmy Orchids, as agroup, are tough, and though adapted to specific manyyears as alocal naturalist andworkingwith the National environmentalconditions,canstillbefoundinsuitablehabitats Park Service, itis this: It is far better to protect something to throughout the region. Contrary to common belief, some beginwiththantotrytorestoreit. speciesarenotshyaboutgrowingindamagedenvironments;in fact some specializein colonizingdisturbed areas. I have seen Thelistbelowispresentedalphabeticallyandisnotintendedto them poking through gratings of abandoned shopping carts, becomplete,butratherasurveyoforchidsIhaveencountered and growing along streams no one would dream of drinking on Long Island, their current condition and perhaps a few from. Fve even seen them “mixingit up” with Phragmites and notes regardingtheirpotential future. Where possible, I have porcelain berry. These are by no means ideal situations, and given count numbers; in cases of very abundant orchids, no in many cases are merely examples of transitions from one counts have been made. I have tried to capture the general (Continuedonpg5) Page 2 Long Island Botanical Society Vol. 23 No. 1 Long Island Society News Botanical Society Founded: 1986 • Incorporated: 1989 Superstorm Sandy cancels LIBS meeting. The 13 November 2012 general meeting was cancelled because Muttontown Preserve was still TheLongIslandBotanicalSocietyisdedicated withoutelectricity. AndyGreherwas scheduledto speakthateveningand to the promotion of field botany and a his talkhasbeenrescheduledtoApril2013. greater understanding of the plants that growwildonLongIsland,NewYork. LIBS By-Laws revision passed. The membership unanimously voted Visit the Society’s Web site to accept therevision at the 11 December 2012general meeting. Sincere www.libotanical.ora appreciation is expressed to CarolJohnston, Lois Lindberg, and Barbara Conollyforworkingontherevision. Executive Board President LIBS2013membershiprenewaldue. PromptrenewalhelpstheSociety EricLamont 631-722-5542 update and process its records, and it saves volunteer time and costs for [email protected] follow-up notices. Accept our thanks in advance for promptly renewing Vice President yourmembership. [email protected] The first annual Long Island Natural History Conference was held Treasurer on 16 November 2012 at Brookhaven National Lab. Approximately 185 CarolJohnston naturalists attended, including several LIBS members. Itwas a great time [email protected] to catchupwithold friends andmake newcontactsin the field of natural RecordingSecretary history. Therewere 8 presentations thatincludedallmannerof local flora [email protected] and fauna such as otters, horseshoe crabs, leopard frogs, the biodiversity CorrespondingSecretary ofPlumIsland,andJohnTurner’sAtlanticwhitecedartalk.Worldfamous Rich Kellyvze2dxmil@,verizon.net naturalistPeterAldengave the keynote address on “Changesin ourFlora and Fauna.” The followingdayfeatured field trips forriver otter sign and Committee Chairpersons forwhite cedars atCranberryBogand Sears-Bellows CountyParks. Flora EricLamont [email protected] AnewField Guide to the Flora of Montaukis beingprepared byLIBS [email protected] membersLarryPennyandVickiBustamante. Theguidewillbeafollow-up ofNormanTaylor’s (1923) classicpublicationonthefloraofMontauk,sub- FieldTrips titled“AStudyofGrasslandandForest.” Larrywrites: “Taylorprobablypicked [email protected] Montaukbecauseitwaslargelyundevelopedandhadthesecondlargestprai- Programs rieonLongIsland,anditwastopographicallyvariedandbathedwithseawa- Rich Kellyvze2dxmil@,verizon.net teronthreesides.Montaukhadjustabouteverykindofhabitatfoundelse- Membership whereonLongIslandwiththeexceptionofpinebarrens.Ithadstuff along [email protected] the oceanthattherestof LongIsland’s oceanfrontexpanselacked,namely, tall bluffs, stuffed with clays and glacial erratics. Behind the bluffs was a Conservation dwarf forest,aheathland,notunlikethoseforwhichIrelandandtheBritish BihTitus [email protected] Isles are known. Manyof the area’s earlyEuropeaninhabitants,who came Education from heathlandsin the OldWorld,identified these spots as moors.”What MaryLauraLamont wouldTaylorthinkifhesawMontauktoday? Larryspeculates: “IfNorman [email protected] Taylorwerewithus today, he mightnotbelievewhathe experienced. If he Hospitality werealiveandbotanEingMontaukinJulyorAugustof2012,hemighthave Kathleen Gaffney [email protected] tosseditin. Ifyou’reanaturalist,it’s bettertobeearlythanlate.” Zu Proly DorothyTitus [email protected] Join LIBS today! NewsletterEditor Annual Membership is $20payable to: Margaret Conover Long IslandBotanicalSociety [email protected] Mailyourdues to: withspecialthanksto CarolJohnston, LIBS Treasurer Skip &JaneBlanchard 347 DuckPondRoad Webmaster Locust Valley, NY 11560 [email protected] NOTE:MembershiprenewalsaredueinJanuary Long Island Botanical Society Vol. 23 No. 1 Page 3 2012 Orchid Sightings from Long Island, NY Eric Lamont, President, LIBS Field botanists are known from on Long Island Montauk. Habitat continuetolocate destruction and populations of the succession native orchids of open marshes never before into shrublands documented in and swamp forest the literature or are major causes in herbaria. This for the decline of news indicates Arethusa on Long that the island Island. still provides On suitable habitat 20 July 2012, for organisms Bob McGrath requiring near- reported: “I just pristineecological came from the conditions for Quogue Wildlife survival. It also Refuge. ALL of illustrates the the white-fringed importance of orchid {Platanthera getting out in Figure 1. Long Island nativeorchids. PhotographsbyTom Nelsonexceptwhere noted, blephariglottis) the field and a.Arethusabulbosa, b. Platantherapallida[E. Lamont], c. Deerdamagetoorchids[E. Lamont],d. flowers are gone! contributing to Platantheraclllaris,e. Platanthera clavellata,f. Calopogontuberosus,g. Goodyerapubescens, h. I located some our knowledge Platantheralacera(seed capsules), i. Isotriaverticillata,]. Corallorhizaodontorhlza. plants without of naturalhistory. Thisreportincludes sightings (presented flowerheadsbutIcouldn’tevenlocatemostoftheindividuals. chronologically) of previously undocumented orchid NobodywasaroundtoaskattherefugebutIwillbebackthere populations and provides updates on the status of some again soon andwill ask. Iwas just thereinJune anditlooked historical and extantpopulations. likeitwasgoingtobe agreatyear. Whatapity. Ifitwas deer, theywerethorough.” FormoreinformationonP. blephariglottis On 1 June 2012, Jim Ash and Eric Lamont spent a day in atQuogueWildlifeRefuge seeLIBS newsletter (2001),vol. 11, the field trying to re-locate Arethusa bulbosa (dragon’s-mouth; pp. 44-47. Fig. la) in the vicinityof WaterMill on the South Fork. This showy orchid was collected on 29 May 1923 by F. A. Ward On 21 July 2012,Jim Goltz of New Brunswick, Canada and from “wet sphagnum bogs and islands along west shore of Eric Lamont visited several orchid sites on the South Fork, LakeNeatawanta,VzmilenorthofWatermill” [voucheratNew the most noteworthy being the large Platantherapallida (pale York State Museum Herbarium, Albany (NYS)]. The lake is fringed orchid; Fig. lb) population in Napeague. Close to nowcalledMillPond. On3June 1951, G. H. Peters collected 1000 flowering individuals usually emerge each summer, but Arethusafroma“deep sphagnum swamp.Watermill” [voucher the number has been decreasing in recent years because the atPlantingFieldsArboretumHerbarium(OBPF)]. Armedwith plants are beingeatenbywhite-tailed deer (Fig. lc). LIBS and thisinformation,JimandEricfirstsearchedforsuitablehabitat theTorreyBotanicalSocietyalreadyhavepublishedreports on in the vicinity of Mill Pond. After bushwhacking throughout this problembut still, nothinghas been done. 2012 mayhave theregionforafewhours,suitablehabitatforArethusawasnot beentheworstyearyet;morethan80%ofthefloweringplants found. ThewetlandsintheimmediatevicinityofMillPondare hadbeeneatenby21July. Aprominentnationalenvironmental nowdominatedbyredmapleswamp,withsmall,shadypockets organizationisresponsibleforthe“managementagreement”of of sphagnum scattered throughout. Arethusa is a sun-loving this site ownedbytheTownof EastHampton.Whatneeds to A orchid that historically inhabited open, sphagnum-dominated bedonetoprotecttheserareorchids? tallfencesurrounding marshes, fens, and wet meadows on Long Island. More than thepropertywouldbeagoodstart. JimandEricalsoobserved twodozenpopulations ofArethusausedto occuronthe south dozens of flowering Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis (southern shoreofLongIsland,buttodayonlyafewscatteredindividuals slenderladies-tresses) onlow,undulatingdunes blanketedwith (Cont. onpage4) Page 4 Long Island Botanical Society Vol. 23 No. 1 (OrchidSightingscont.frompage3) beenreportedfromthisvicinitysince23Aug1935,whenStanley Arctostaphylosuva-ursi(bearbcrry)onthesouthsideofCranberry Cain collected a specimen from a “bog mat, Hauppauge Bog” Hole Road in Napeague. Also among the dunes were more [voucheratTheNewYorkBotanicalGarden (NY)]. than 60 fruiting individuals of Calopogon tuherosus (tuberous grass-pink;Fig. If)inawetswaledominatedbyPseudolycopodiella On5Aug2012,A1Lindberg,RichKelly,andRichRyderfound caroliniana (Carolina clubmoss) and otherbog clubmosses and a population of Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis at Stillwell Woods graminoids. Finally,onesterileleafofPlatantheraciliaris(yellow CountyPreserve in Syosset. Sevenindividuals were observed fringedorchid;Fig. Id)waslocatedintheexclosureadjacentto along a sandy trail bordering oak woods to the north. This BarnesHoleRoadinAmagansett;inthelate 1980s,morethan occurrenceisanewrecordforthisregionofNorthHempstead 100floweringindividualsadornedthissameroadside (seeLIBS Township, Nassau County. One hundred years ago, Nassau newsletter(1992),vol.2,no. 6,pp. 4-5). Countyprovidedhabitatthatsupported25nativeorchidspecies buttodayonlysevenspeciesareknownfromthecounty. On 27 July 2012, A1 Lindberg and Rich Kelly found and photographed one plant of Platanthera blephariglottis var. On 6 Sept 2012, Polly Weigand found and photographed a hlephariglottis (northern white fringed orchid) not far from the singleindividualof Platantheralacera (ragged fringed orchid) in Carmans Riverin WertheimNationalWildlifeRefuge, Shirley. anoldfielddominatedbyAndropogonvirginicus(broom-sedge) at This occurrence is a new record for southern Brookhaven PineMeadows CountyPark,located atthe farwesternendof Township, Suffolk County. During the past 100 years, theDwarfPinePlainsnorthwestofWesthampton.Therobust populations of P. hlephariglottis on Long Island have severely plantwaspastprimebloom,withmaturingfruits (Fig. lh). This declined; of the more than 30 documented populations from occurrence is a new record for this region of Southampton theisland,onlyabouthalfremain. Township, Suffolk County. The closest population occurs further east at Quogue Wildlife Refuge. The Pine Meadows On30July2012,BobMcGrathreported:“Ifoundhalfadozen siteisnoteworthybecausethehabitatisdrierthanusualforthis individualsofPlatantherapallidaintheregioneastoftheWalking species; P. lacera usually inhabits wet meadows, marshes, and Dunes on the SouthFork. This areais between the stabilized springy,mucky,herb-dominatedopeningsinswamps. dune to the far east and the active dune that people ascend whenenteringthesitefromNapeagueHarborRoad. Ialsosaw On6Oct2012,A1LindbergledaLIBSfieldtriptoMuttontown thelargestnumberofindividuals of Pogoniaophioglossoides(rose Preserve in Nassau County. The group of botanists was in pogonia) thatIcanrecallintheswaleregionof theactivedune the large hemlock grove west of the walled gardens and A1 earlierinJune. Someboggypockets had dozens of flowersin mentioned that Goodyerapuhescens (downyrattlesnake plantain; bloom, trulymemorable. Pogoniawas also found at Cranberry Fig. lg) used to occur there but had not been seen in more Bog County Nature PreserveinJune; nine plants were found than a decade. Within a few minutes Mike Feder found two along the shore of the Little Peconic River that feeds into evergreen leaves of this species, with the most handsomely SweezyPond. Calopogontuherosus(Fig. If) was alsoin evidence marked foliage of any of our native orchids. It’s interesting in good numbers at the WalkingDunes swale and also at the to note that A1 Lindberg has been regularly monitoring this abandoned cranberry bogs at Swan Pond [Calverton, Suffolk Goodyera population for more than 35 years and from about Co.] inJune. While not nearlyas common as the species once 2000 to 2012 the plants remained dormant underground was at Swan Pond, a dozen or so plants could still be seen in and did not produce any above-ground vegetative structures. the openpocketsof thebogsouthof thegolfcourseandalso Other orchids in our region, like Isotria medeoloides (small justeastalongRiverRoad. SadlynoPogoniawas locatedthere. whorledpogonia),alsohaveextendedperiodsofunderground A singleindividual of Isotria verticillata (largewhorled pogonia; dormancy,lastingup to20years. Historically, G.puhescenswas Fig. li) was foundin Caleb Smith State Park alongwith three known fromsevenlocalities inNassau County, buttodayonly developingPlatanthera clavellata (club-spur orchid; Fig. le) back twoareknown. A in May. recent return visit revealed that the three clavellata flowershadbeenbrowsedbydeer.” On 25 Oct 2012, Mary Laura and Eric Lamont surveyed the Corallorhigaodontorhiga(autumncoralroot;Fig. lj) populationat On 3 Aug2012, Mike Federand RichKellylocated more than HubbardCreekPark,SuffolkCounty. Thishard-to-spotorchid 30 flowering individuals of Platanthera clavellata (Fig. le) at Bill wasfirstlocatedatthis siteinNovember2001 bySkipandJane RichardsMemorialPark, adjacenttoBlydenburghCountyPark, Blanchard (seeLIBSnewsletter(2001),vol. 11,pp.4-5). Inthe in SmithtownTownship. The plantswere scattered around the earlyto mid-2000s, thepopulation consisted of approximately pondnorthoftheparkinglot;thatis,thesmallerpondsoutheast 400 individuals. By 2010, numbers had decreased to around of the much larger Stump Pond. Platanthera clavellata had not 100individuals andin2012,31 individualswereobserved. ) Long Island Botanical Society Vol. 23 No. 1 Page 5 (OrchidSurveycont.frompage 1 Corallorhiza odontorhiza abundance (orrarity) of several speciesin descriptive terms as Autumn Coralroot thesemaystillbeof somevalue,evenwhenspecificcountsare Theinitialrediscovery notavailable. of this species by LIBS members Skip My thanks to my many orchid-loving companions for and Jane Blanchard information we have shared over the years, and of course, after decades of for the muddy, sandy, and excitingtimes spent togetherin the absence was greeted field. Ihope to continue sharingwiththemforyears to come. with great interest ParticularthanksgoouttoJimAsh,SkipBlanchard,RichKelly, bythe localbotanical and Eric Lamont for their great good humor, patience, and community. The knowledgeofLongIslandandits environs. sandytrailinFlanders along which the Calopogon tuherosus plants grew had Grass Pink only recently been An orchid with re-graded and the a history of common thinking wide distribution was that this orchid, throughout Long which is reputed to Island, Calopogon appreciate light disturbance, benefitted enormously from the tuherosusmay possibly work. Counts of the plantaround2005wereinthe hundreds. occur hidden in one Since that time, the plant has consistently appeared at the site of Nassau County’s instablebutdiminishednumbers. SeveralLIBSmembershave more acid wetlands, reporteditsdisappearancefromthearea.HoweveronOctober but I have not been 7, 2011 I located 77 of these obscure orchids on a relatively able to confirm briefwalkthroughthewoodswithmyfamilyandonSeptember this. It is still quite 23,2012,onasimilarcasualhike,counted29plants injustover abundant in several an hour and a half. Like so many orchids, there seem to be locations along the hundreds of suitable sites for this plant on Long Island, and outwash plain of yetno other occurrences have beenrecordedrecently. Thisis the south shore of Long Islandin Suffolk County, andwhere probably attributable as much to genuine rarity, as to the odd present,maybeconsideredabundant. InthefilmingofaPBS bloom season and non-descript nature of the plant. Lacking Naturespecial“ObsessionWithOrchids” (PBS,Nature,2000), leaves, orevenopen flowers, alarge plantmightreach 12” tall, I and severalinvited LIBS members discussed the plight of a easy to overlook, even for botanists searching the woods for colony of Calopogon and Pogonia orchids at the WalkingDunes bloomsinOctober. of Napeague. The concern at the time was Phragmites. On a recenttripin2011 I foundthatthoughPhragmiteshadbecome, Cypripedium acaule in fact, a far greater presence in the interdunal swales, a still MoccasinFlower, PinkLadies’ Slipper greaterthreatwas the steadysuccession of native species such This beautiful native as bayberry, cherry, and American beach grass. Having said is still found in good this, though the consequent shading and crowding has taken numbers at dozens its toll on the orchids, the plants are stillpresentinreasonable of sites. The plant numbers. Inseveralotherareasatthesite,whereenvironmental is as adaptable as it is conditions have allowed awet, fullyexposed bowl to develop, showy, and seems to the orchids arepresentinverygood numbers. Othercolonies find suitable growing of the plant on Long Island are truly remarkable. One site conditions in wet or nearertoAmagansettwasstillcompletelyintactwiththousands dry soils, interdunal of maturebloomswhenLIBS memberJimAshandItraveled sands, full sun, deep there onJune 22, 2011. Interestingly, Pogoniais not present at shade, and most this site. CalopogonandPogoniacanfrequendybe foundgrowing combinations of togetherandhaveanoverlappingbloomseason. the above, provided it finds very acidic soils. Historically, (Cont. onpage6) Page 6 Long Island Botanical Society Vol. 23 No. 1 fOrchidSurveycont.frompage5) Isotria verticillata Cypripedium acauk was found on all of Long Island including what are now the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. The MyfriendMikeHicks planthasbeenreportedtomebyreliable sources fromisolated inMaine,comfortable individuals as far west as Queens. However, despite many with huge colonies of attempts to verify this over severalyears, I have not been able Rlatanthera grandiflora to locate this species west of Nassau County. Cypripedium and P. psycodes (the acauk is well suited to the acid heath woods associated with large and smallpurple the terminal moraines of Long Island, and might even be fringed orchids) considered “frequent” in isolated pockets. I believe it is only and Listera cordata, amatterof timebefore contemporaryexamples arelocatedin complains that he has Queens. The typical flower color for Cypripediumranges from seen only one or two a very delicate shell pink to rich magenta. On May 12, 2010 of these strikingly andagainonMay23,2012Istumbleduponthestunningwhite unusual orchids. By form of the flower (forma alba) in western Suffolk County. contrast, one of Thesealbinistic flowers arereputedtobe farmore commonin the most exciting the northernparts of the orchid’srange,butobviouslyare still discoveries upon my occasionallyencounteredonLongIsland. move to mid-Suffolk county several years Goodyerapubescens ago was the relative Rattlesnake Plantain abundanceofthisspeciesinthisareaofLongIsland. ToMike,I A handsome plant in haveonlytooffer,“Thegrassisalwaysgreener...” Remarkably anyseason,thisorchid well suited to conditions in the dry heath woods on both of has become more Long Island’s glacial moraines where low bush blueberry, and more difficult huckleberry, spotted wintergreen, and re-sprouting American to locate on Long chestnuts canbe found, this orchidmaygive Spiranthescernuaa Island, for reasons runforthemostcommonlyencounteredorchidinthispartof that are unclear. Long Island. Though I have not foundit beyond the eastern Reasonable colonies edgeofNassauCounty,itappearsagainwithinNewYorkCity, still exist, but many makingsearchesofwoodlandsinwesternNassau,andQueens smaller populations particularly important. I believe the plant is likely to exist in have vanished. For any number of small pocket parks where dry oak woods are example, plants stillrelativelyhealthy. A closerelative, the federallythreatened located at Greenport Isotria medeoloides, listed historically for Long Island, has been in the past have the subject of several intensive searches by LIBS president disappeared, as have EricLamontduringthepast30years. Itoo havemade several several individuals efforts over severalyears to trackdown old sites andpotential in East Hampton newlocations. Unfortunately, no plants of I. medeoloides have (pers. comm. Jim been located to date. The work has, however resulted in Ash). Plants reported infrequendy but with regularity from severalnewlocations forI. verticillata, somevirtuallyinpeople’s the Connetquot River State Park and Preserve seem to have backyards, or almost to the shoulders of the Northern State vanished as well. In all cases thus far, efforts to relocate ParkwayandtheLongIslandExpressway. Somuch seemingly individual plants, smaller colonies, or to find nearby outliers suitablehabitatstillexistsfortheveryrareIsotriamedeoloides,that haveprovenunproductive. OnesmallgroupwhichIdiscovered itseemsjustamatterof timeandgoodfortunebeforeanother within yards of the Northern State Parkway seemed doomed siteislocated. as its plants (twowith flower spikes) withered duringthe mid- summerdroughtof 2011. The tinycolonyhad notrecovered Liparis loeselii by springof 2012, howeverat the siteinlate August2012 the Loesel’s Twayblade plants hadrebounded and had put outthree smallbut healthy I discovered this obscure orchid on September 18, 2009 in rosettes. Thoughevergreen,thesmallplantsareeasilycovered southern Queens. Itmarks the first sightingforwesternLong bysnow,andlocatingnewpopulationscanbechallengingeven Island since Fanny Mulford collected a specimen onJune 27, inwinterwhenfewnearbyplants aregreen. 1896 in the Rockaways, approximately 113 years prior. The populationconsisted of eighteenplants, sixwithripeningseed Long Island Botanical Society Vol. 23 No. 1 Page 7 capsules, but several Malaxis unifolia individuals located GreenAdder’s Mouth near the original One of the most colony during later troubling orchids on visits that season, Long Island, Malaxis increasedthecountto unifolia’s single known 24. In2010, 12plants site is an unprotected were located, but roadside which is the site was already mowed with such very overgrown, and vehemence and I did not wish to regularity that plants risk disturbing the do not have much orchids further in chance to reproduce order to get a more sexually. I have come complete count. In to check the site far 2011, 16 plants were earlier in the season located, six of which than is traditionally bore ripe capsules recommended due by September. I undertook clearing the immediate vicinity to this mowing, and surrounding the plants in late winter of 2012, but byJune of fortunately have discovered that the plants begin to flower 2012,thefieldwasverybadlyovergrownagain. Again,localized, much earlier than is generally reported. In 2012 mowingwas careful removal of competing vegetation was completed, but 2th0e12c.olAonryadwihcialchmonwoiwngconmsuissttsboefco1n1sipldaenrtesd, dfoirdtnhoetsfitleowiferthien wseorseevceormeplaettetlhey dsietneutdheadt sbeyvetrhael mfoorwmeerrlyblapdreosd.uctOivnesselvoepreasl slopes, the mowers took out even the roots of plants as they colonyis tocontinue. reached mineral earth. Despite these radicalmowings, counts Listera australis seem to be fairly consistent in the last several years. In this case, consistency is not necessarily a good thing particularly SouthernTwayblade whenconsideringtheunlikelyprospects forthe orchid’s sexual This tiny Long Island reproductionatthe site. nativecanstillbefound atitswell-documented 2008 = 3 plants (2 fertile) site atthe Connetquot 2009 = 5plants (1 fertilebutbadlydamagedbyinsect River State Park and herbivory) Preserve. Numbers 2010 =2plants (onefertilebutfloweringspikecutoffby are still good and the mowersalongwithhalf of oneof theleavesby A site seems healthy. 7/15/11) smaller site further 2011 = 13 plants (3 flowers,byAugust5,2011 allspikes east on Long Island and severalleaves destroyedbymowing) documented by Jim 2012 = 7 plantslocated (2floweringspikes). Sitemowed Ash has not been so severelyjustpriorto secondvisiton 7/1/12 relocated in several bare soilwas allthatremainedonseveralformerly years. This plant’s productive slopes. Re-locatedonly2 sterileleaves tiny size and the very inhospitable growing Considering the plant’s adaptability to a variety of habitats conditions it prefers it is difficult to understand why searches of other similar - make it likely that other small colonies have been overlooked, or dissimilar - habitats have revealed no additional plants. andmaystillbelocatedonLongIsland. Bloomingseasonwas But ultimately, it is probably the plant’s tiny size and cryptic almosttwoweeks earlyin2012,mostprobablydue tothemild coloration that are the reason additional sites for the green winter and warm spring. Numbers also seemed to be slighdy adder’smouthremainelusive. lowerthaninpastyears,butnotmarkedlyso. (Cont. onpage8) Page 8 Long Island Botanical Society Vol. 23 No. 1 (OrchidSurveycont.frompage 7) Platanthera ciliaris Platanthera blephariglottis YellowFringed Orchid White Fringed Orchid I am frequently p[eNsosimiimstaigceabaovauitlatbhlee.]futUunrfeorotfuntahitselpyl,antitoinsLhoanrgdIsnloatnd.toThbee surprised at the singleknowncolonyinEastHamptonhasbeenreducedtojust durability of this a few plants. I last observed and photographed a flowering vspeercyiesm,uwchhichprisessetniltl plant at that site on August 1, 2007, and by 2011 only five weak, sterileleaveswere observed. Though I did nothave the where suitable pleasureofknowingthesitewhentheplantwastrulyabundant, conditions are found myfirstexperiences atthe sitewerein thelate 1980’swhen25 on Long Island. to 30 plants bloomingalongthe roadsideswas not anunusual Though it prefers occurrence. Humanpopulationgrowth,resultinginincreased full sun inwet boggy salting of roads and poorly timed road mowings are generally areas, I have regularly blamedfortherelativelyrapidloss of thisplant. found sterile leaves and occasional Platanthera clavellata flowering individuals Club Spur Orchid in deep shade, Western and middle most often where pines grow in wet Suffolk County are prime habitat for this situations. In2010Ilocated 132sterileleavesindeepshadeat acountypreservenearRiverhead.Nofloweringwasobserved small and unassuming orchid, which that year or in 2011, but in 2012 two plants in spike were noted. Thoughboth spikes’ developmentwas terminated by seems to frequent deer prematurely, their identity was incontrovertible - from locations with flowing freshwater creeks, the size of the plants and leaves, and the color of buds just small upwellings, a day or two prior to opening, I have no doubt that these and spring-fed pools, were P. blephariglottis. As I understandit, this species has not beenreported from the preserve since 1973. The orchids at usually in association with sphagnum QuogueWildlifeRefugeareanexampleoforchidconservation mosses. The plants success. In 1997 a plan was implemented at the refuge to are small, but the restore habitat for the white fringed orchid. Itwas here that flowers haveapeculiar in 2011 I witnessed one of the greatest blooms of the plant that I have everexperienced. In the one small clearingalone charm. Theflowersareheldata45degreeangle,andarebright therewere 123 floweringorchids—nocountwasmadeof the chartreuse green. Strangely, they stand out surprisingly well manynearbysterile plants. In2012, despite averypromising againstthebackdrop ofintense summergreeneryinthe shady start I observed on aspringtrip to the site, I understand that deepwoodstheyprefer. Ihavelocatedtheplantalongmanyof deer or other herbivores snatched awaya similarbanneryear thetributariesof theNissequogueRiverandthoughIhavenot for P. blephariglottis blooms. The Connetquot River State surveyed it as extensively on the south shore of Long Island, Park and Preserve still hosts a reasonable number of plants I suspectit exists along the upperreaches of the Connetquot inwet areas, both shaded and sunny. In 2012, togetherwith Riveraswell.Farthereast,thecolonyinEastHamptonappears Maria Mucaria Stankowski, an officer with the Long Island to be stable, though 2012 was a poor flower year for the site Orchid Society, I tracked down an olderrecord of Platanthera (pers. comm.JimAsh). blephariglottis in Nassau County not far from the Sunrise Platanthera cristata Highway. Like so many records ten or more years old, the sitehadchangedagreatdeal,andnotforthebetter. Muchto CrestedYellow Orchid mysurprise, 11 orchidleaveswere found,includingoneplant Never abundant in my time exploring the orchids of Long flowering beautifully in the shade of pines at the edge of a Island, this brightly colored flower had once been secure in wetmeadow. Platantherablephariglottisis asurvivor. suitable habitats, but has become increasinglyrare. Small but stable populations exist at Connetquot River State Park and Preservedespiteheavypredationbydeer,andthepallidaformis stillabundantonfareasternLongIsland. Ithasbeenmanyyears Long Island Botanical Society Vol. 23 No. 1 Page 9 since the plant was seenintheHempstead Platanthera lacera Plains, where records Ragged Fringed Orchid indicate it had once Often called a “blue been found in great collar” fringedorchid, numbers. The what this plant lacks plants found in East in vibrant color it Hampton had a poor easily makes up in showingin 2012, with form and elegance. no flowers recorded Cool green and white (pers.comm.JimAsh). will never go out of To provide a relative styleinorchidflowers. sense of abundance, I Platantheralaceracanbe recorded a good year foundinwetmeadows at this south shore where it frequently site in 2007, and that grows in full sun. It was a year in which five mature plants were in bloom. Low is also aplantthatcan but consistent numbers have been the recent history of the be found in young Platantheracristataatthe site. woodlands, provided the soils are damp Platantheraflavavar. herbiola and enough light penetrates. MyJuly 2012 discovery of the NorthernTubercled Orchid speciesonFireIslandNationalSeashoremaybeanewrecord The reputation of the forthe site,andis currentlybeingresearched. ThisyearIwas Oyster Bay site where alsoinstrumentalin the discoveryof several colonies located this orchid is still so on public lands throughout southern Queens, and Brooklyn. well known among I suspect more are likely, considering the species’ habitat Long Island orchid preference and tolerance of disturbance and competition. enthusiasts is due in Platanthera lacera is only the second native orchid species large part to LIBS documented for the borough of Brooklynin overa hundred member A1 Lindberg’s years, and its numbers were surprising; a total of 182 plants successful restoration were located. The last time this species was collected in efforts. Sadly, budget Brooklynwasin 1867, 145years ago. cuts, ATs retirement from the county park Pogonia ophioglossoides system and other Snakemouth Orchid, Rose Pogonia factorshaveonceagain Even in relative terms, tipped the balance this orchid can be toward a Phragmites- considered abundant dominatedlandscape. Severalareasofthesitestillproducegreat where conditions suit numbers of Platantheraflava, however the spread of Phragmites, its needs. A highly if not checked, will certainly reduce their numbers and may attractive flower and eventually eliminate the orchids and many other rarities from quite showy by native the site. Due to the fragile nature of the soils atthe site, Ihave standards, Pogonia can been reluctant to intrude deeply, butin spring of 2012 several befoundinmostplaces areaswithinthesiteproducedcountsmeasuredinthedozensof where full sun and plants. Inwinterof 2011 Ipresented the storyof thismeadow sphagnum combine. to the GreaterNewYorkOrchidSocietyinanefforttointerest Areas of the eastern members of the local conservation community to undertake south shore of Long aproject similar to ATs in order to remove the Phragmites from Island still glisten with keygrowingareas at the site. Necessarypermissions have been hundreds of Pogonia acquiredverballyin order to beginwork. Presentlythe site still flowers in mid to late boastsgoodnumbersofPlatantheraflavavar.herbiola. Otherrarities June andintoJulyin some years. Unfortunatelyhabitatloss in locatedin the fieldinclude PlatantheralaceraandUparisloeselii, as BrooklynandQueensmakeitanunlikelyfindintheminutewilds wellas Canadaburnet,Turk’scaplily,andcardinalflower. ofLongIsland’sfurthestwestextremes,butthereareseveralareas of Nassau County that are certainlyworth checking. Habitats (Cant, onpage 10) Page 10 Long Island Botanical Society Vol. 23 No. 1 (OrchidSurveycont.frompage9) Spiranthes tuherosa such as the sphagnum wetlands associated with this plant are Little Pearl Twist extremelyfragile atbestand arereliantonmanyfactors to keep It is my hope that them stable. For this reason Pogonia should not be considered this beautiful, tiny secureevenwhenobservedingoodnumbers. species can still be found in Queens Spiranthes cernua and/or Brooklyn. Nodding Ladies’ Tresses The species’ needs The nodding ladies’ are simple: poor, tresses is an abundant well-drained soils orchid, well suited to with minimal wetordryopenfields. competition. Frequentlydiscovered The most as a happy accident difficult potential on fallwalks after the requirement is that mainbloomseasonof the plant seems more popular plants, to prefer little it responds favorably disturbance of the to mowing and fight soil itself, so older, My disturbance. mowed fields are exciting discovery of excellent,butthose thathavebeenfilledordisturbedinother this plantin Brooklyn ways seemnot to host this tinyorchid. Fortunatelythere are is probably the first several sites where the plant can be observed. One such site sighting of a native Brooklyn orchid in over a hundred in Bethpage was mentioned to me by Rich Kelly of LIBS. years. The last documented specimen of Spiranthes cernua My first attempts to locate the plant there were met with in Brooklyn was collected in 1889, a full 122 years from its little success, but finally, in the late summer of 2010 I was most recent date of collection in 2011. The site held 100 able to count a single flowering stem of the orchid at the far bloomingplantsin2011. The plant stillgrows abundantlyin northeastern edge of amowed field. In 2011 another single Queens (including unlikely places such as Kennedy Airport, spike was observed. This year, 2012, five individual flower and the Rockaway Peninsula) and across Long Island to the spikes (mostlyspent)wereobservedonAugust 18. Theplant verytipsofitsforks. Interestingly,manyoftheplantslocated is alsopresentatseveralsitesintheHamptonswhereitgrows in the Brooklyn colony produced cleistogomous flowers in similar situations - mowed areas over largely undisturbed whichwere not fullyformed, atraitwhichis believed to have soils. Itis oftenobservedin cemeteries throughoutits range, originated with crossings to a Midwestern species, Spiranthes earningitthe unusualcommon name of “cemeteryorchid.” magnicamporum (pers. comm. Charles Sheviak). Spiranthes vernalis Spiranthes ochroleuca Spring Blooming Spiranthes Yellow Nodding Ladies’ Tresses Driving in my [No image available.] On repeated visits in 2005 and 2006, neighborhood, I’d LIBS memberJim Ash and I collected the necessary green passed aninteresting seedpodsfromasitejustwestofthetownofMontauktomail power fine cut over to Albany’s State Museum’s Spiranthes and Platanthera expert, and over again. Charles (Chuck) Sheviak. We hoped to confirm the identity Finally, on a day I of a group of plants long held to be Spiranthes ochroleuca. needed a walk badly, Spiranthescernuais technicallyidentifiedbythe apomictic seed but was pressed pods (replacement of the normal sexualreproductionin the for time, I chose flower by asexualreproduction). All of the dozens of seed to check out the capsules on seven or eight spikes we collected turned out to “cut.” I parked my be S. cernua. Other sites for Spiranthes ochroleuca are reported car and walked the from Long Island, and I hope to return this species of late- site. What greeted blooming Spiranthes to the fist of known orchids of Long me was remarkable. Island soon. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuherosa)