Plants and Animals
Galearis spectabilis Showy orchis
Key Characteristics
Small orchid (10-20 cm) of rich woods; two ovate basal leaves; flower stalk short and stubby, bearing several small two-parted flowers, each with a rounded pink hood and pale lower lip.
Status and Rank
US Status: No Status/Not Listed
State Status: T - Threatened (legally protected)
Global Rank: G5 - Secure
State Rank: S2 - Imperiled
Occurrences
| County | Number of Occurrences | Year Last Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Allegan | 2 | 2014 |
| Baraga | 1 | 1888 |
| Barry | 2 | 2006 |
| Bay | 1 | 1893 |
| Berrien | 10 | 2012 |
| Calhoun | 1 | 2006 |
| Cass | 3 | 2022 |
| Clinton | 4 | 1963 |
| Eaton | 4 | 1962 |
| Genesee | 1 | 1962 |
| Gogebic | 1 | 2010 |
| Gratiot | 2 | 1893 |
| Hillsdale | 2 | 2004 |
| Ingham | 3 | 1917 |
| Ionia | 1 | 1878 |
| Iosco | 1 | 2010 |
| Kalamazoo | 6 | 2024 |
| Kent | 2 | 1894 |
| Leelanau | 1 | 1998 |
| Lenawee | 3 | 1952 |
| Macomb | 3 | 1919 |
| Oakland | 11 | 1958 |
| Ontonagon | 4 | 2021 |
| Ottawa | 1 | 1894 |
| Saginaw | 1 | 1893 |
| Shiawassee | 1 | 1890 |
| St. Clair | 2 | 1952 |
| Tuscola | 1 | 1893 |
| Van Buren | 1 | 1906 |
| Washtenaw | 4 | 1963 |
| Wayne | 6 | 1933 |
Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.
Habitat
Found in rich deciduous woods, often near temporary spring ponds in sandy clay or rich loam soils, or in shady, rich microhabitats alongside common spring ephemerals. Vigorous colonies can spread into more open habitat.
Natural Community Types
- Floodplain forest
- Mesic northern forest
- Mesic southern forest
- Southern hardwood swamp
- Wet-mesic flatwoods
For each species, lists of natural communities were derived from review of the nearly 6,500 element occurrences in the MNFI database, in addition to herbarium label data for some taxa. In most cases, at least one specimen record exists for each listed natural community. For certain taxa, especially poorly collected or extirpated species of prairie and savanna habitats, natural community lists were derived from inferences from collection sites and habitat preferences in immediately adjacent states (particularly Indiana and Illinois). Natural communities are not listed for those species documented only from altered or ruderal habitats in Michigan, especially for taxa that occur in a variety of habitats outside of the state.
Natural communities are not listed in order of frequency of occurrence, but are rather derived from the full set of natural communities, organized by Ecological Group. In many cases, the general habitat descriptions should provide greater clarity and direction to the surveyor. In future versions of the Rare Species Explorer, we hope to incorporate natural community fidelity ranks for each taxon.
Associated Plants
Blue-beech, water leaf, sedge, bottle brush grass, large flowered trillium, spring beauty, hepatica, sugar maple, Eastern hemlock, beech, yellow birch, basswood, white pine, red oak, white cedar, white birch, ironwood, American elm, balsam fir, white baneberry, red baneberry, wild leek, wild sarsaparilla, jack-in-the-pulpit, blue cohosh, enchanter's nightshade, bunchberry, blue-bead lily, Canada mayflower, Solomon's seal, false spikenard, twisted stalk, bellwort, star flower, nodding trillium, common trillium, maiden hair fern, lady fern, rattlesnake fern, spinulose woodfern, stiff clubmoss, shining clubmoss, ground pine, striped maple, leatherwood, fly honeysuckle, and maple-leaf viburnum.
Management Recommendations
This species benefits from conservation of rich forest habitat, and avoidance of excessive logging and change in hydrology. Minimize development and fragmentation. When possible, leave large tracts of unharvested forests and allow natural processes to operate unhindered. Reportedly also very susceptible to herbivory from slugs.
Survey Methods
Random meander search covers areas that appear likely to have rare taxa, based on habitat and the judgement of the investigator.
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Meander search
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Survey Period: From first week of May to fourth week of June
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References
Survey References
- Elzinga, C.L., D.W. Salzer, and J.W. Willoughby. 1998. Measuring and Monitoring Plant Populations. The Nature Conservancy and Bureau of Land Management, Denver. BLM Technical Reference 1730-1. 477pp.
- Goff, G.F., G.A. Dawson, and J.J. Rochow. 1982. Site examination for Threatened and Endangered plant species. Environmental Management 6(4): 307-316
- Nelson, J.R. 1984. Rare Plant Field Survey Guidelines. In: J.P. Smith and R. York. Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California. 3rd Ed. California Native Plant Society, Berkeley. 174pp.
- Nelson, J.R. 1986. Rare Plant Surveys: Techniques For Impact Assessment. Natural Areas Journal 5(3):18-30.
- Nelson, J.R. 1987. Rare Plant Surveys: Techniques for Impact Assessment. In: Conservation and management of rare and endangered plants. Ed. T.S. Elias. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 8pp.
Technical References
- Braun, E. L. 1967. The Monocotyledoneae of Ohio. Cat-tails to Orchids. Ohio State University Press, Columbus. 464pp.
- Case, F.W., Jr. 1987. Orchids of the Western Great Lakes Region. Revised ed. Cranbrook Institute of Science, Bull. 48. 251pp.
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee. 2002. Flora of North America, North of Mexico. Volume 26: Magnoliaphyta: Liliidae: Liliales and Orchidales. Oxford University Press, New York. 723pp.
- Gleason, H. A., and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second edition. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 910pp.
- Gray, A. 1950. Gray's Manual of Botany; eighth ed. Van Nostrand Reinghold, New York. 1632pp.
- Holmgren, N.H. 1998. Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual. Illustrations of the vascular plants of Northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 937pp.
- Homoya, M.A. 1993. Orchids of Indiana. Indiana University Press, Bloomington. 276pp.
- Luer, C.A. 1975. The Native Orchids of the United States and Canada, Excluding Florida. Native Orchids U.S. & Canada. Barrons Educational Series, Hauppauge.
- Voss, E. G. 1972. Michigan Flora. Part I. Gymnosperms and Monocots. Bulletin of the Cranbrook Institute of Science and University of Michigan Herbarium. 488pp.
- Whiting, R.E. and P.M. Catling. 1986. Orchids of Ontario. The CanaColl Foundation, Ottawa. 169pp.