Existing comment:
Restoring the Small-Whorled Pogonia:
The Small-Whorled Pogonia (Isotria medeloides) isn't the flashiest orchid, but it has a major claim to fame as the rarest orchid east of the Mississippi River.
SERC ecologists try to protect and restore Istoria populations by identifying the orchid's particular mycorrhizal fungi, determining which factors control the fungi's abundance in the soil, and learning about the plant's life cycle and population dynamics.
Want to get involved? Help NAOCC track wild orchid populations at iNaturalist.org. You can also use the Go Orchids website to identify orchid species and learn more.
Trouble for Isotria:
Isotria's fungi depend on oaks, hickories, and beeches found in forests older than 100 years. As old-growth forests disappear and shrink, so do orchid populations. It may take decades or centuries for the trees, fungi, and orchids to recover.
Unfortunately, some Isotria populations may not have much time left. Plants in the southern part of the species' range are at risk as the climate becomes too warm. Because these orchids are so isolated, they may not be able to spread quickly enough to beat the heat. |