"Three orchid lovers trekked over the sand hills and forest floors on
Napeague... hoping to find the pale fringed orchid. In the entire world
there are only three colonies, all in one population inhabiting the
Napeague area of East Hampton Town.
...
Jim Fowler of Greenville, S.C. ...
Sam Saulys of Branford, Conn. ...
and Eric Lamont of Riverhead...
Eventually... came to a halt.
They were standing amid clusters of light yellow blossoms.
... Fowler...
In his spare time he managed to write "Wild Orchids of South Carolina: A
Popular Natural History."
... Saulys... spends her free time venturing... the country to spot wild
native orchid species.
... Lamont... serves as the president of the Long Island Botanical Society...
There used to be 36 species of native orchids on Long Island,... Lamont
said, but that number has dropped to 26.
In the mid 1800s... the western end of Long Island was known for its rich
orchid flora.
Today, the eastern portion of the island is "the last remaining stronghold
of orchids," ... Lamont said.
The pale fringed orchid is one of the 26 species that reside on Long Island...
Lamont estimated the number of individuals at the colony he visited...
"If you count all the individuals, there are about 1,000 here," he said.
... Fowler... appreciation for the pale fringed flower.
"It is so unusual," he said. "It's cream-colored instead of bright orange
and yellow."
In addition to its uncommon color, a pale fringed orchid is distinguished
by a distinctively shaped lip...
According to... Lamont, pale fringed orchids are special because "their
lips are re-curved."
They do not project forward the way the lips of their close relative the
crested fringed orchid do.
The lip of the pale fringed orchid has a uniquely curved shape instead.
...
The classification of the pale fringed orchid, Plan[Pla]tanthera pallida,
is still under debate, despite the flower's unusual traits. "Some
orchidologists feel this [orchid] is not worthy of a distinct species and
some other orchidologists think it is," ... Lamont said.
... Orchid lovers are traveling from all over the United States to pay a
visit to Napeague.
One couple flew over from England to see the colony...
The pale fringed orchid was first described as a new species in 1992 by
Paul Martin Brown.
This year he elaborated on his findings and described the defining
characteristics of the orchid.
In the first 2008 issue of the North American Native Orchid Journal, he
continued to argue that the pale fringed orchid is a new species.
While fascinated with what ... Brown has to say, the three orchidologists
on Napeague disagree with him.
Rather than a new species, ... Saulys and ... Fowler believe the pale
fringed orchid is an "ecotype hybrid."
...
Lamont elaborated.
When a crested fringed orchid crossbreeds with a white fringed orchid, the
offspring has the same coloring as the pale fringed flower. Thus many
orchid experts think that the latter plant is simply a descendant of a
hybrid form.
...
Lamont observed that the plants could grow as high as one foot.
However, many of those at the colony, both tall and short, had had the
flowers cut off from their... green stems...
Lamont blamed hungry deer, who he said were a threat to the colony he was
visiting on Napeague.
In addition, he said, "slugs eat orchids, especially when they are young
and starting to come up." "
URL : http://www.easthamptonstar.com/dnn/LinkClick.aspx?link=6248&tabid=6213
photo : [caption : "Jim Fowler of Greenville, S.C., flew to New York for an
opportunity to photograph the rare pale fringed orchid"]
http://www.easthamptonstar.com/dnn/Portals/0/20080807/orchidHunt2.jpg
**
Regards,
VB
___
the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD)
orchids@orchidguide.com
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