]
A Native Orchid in Pine Knoll Shores (Continued from page 1)
on the coast; in the maritime forest at Cape Hatteras (Buxton-Frisco area) and
in the maritime forest of the Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area in Pine Knoll
Shores.
Finding Three Birds Orchids, and especially finding them in flower, can
be difficult because of their extremely ephemeral nature. Plants may remain
“dormant,” i.e., not producing above-ground shoots, for multiple years,
apparently emerging only when conditions are suitable. Further, after they do
emerge, they are likely to be noticed only when they flower, and flowering lasts
for only a day. A plant flowers only about three to four times a year. Further,
all (or almost all) plants in an area synchronize their flowering to occur on the
same day. So, during those periodic years when the plants emerge, there may be
only three to four days when flowering plants will be seen in an area.
Plants in the Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area flower mostly from about
mid- or late August to about mid-September. Study of the species throughout its
range has documented that flowering events typically occur about two days after
a noticeable drop in overnight temperatures for two consecutive nights.
Three years ago, 2017 was an excellent year for seeing the species in the
Roosevelt Natural Area. There were at least three flowering events from late
August through September. The major event of that season was on September
10. On that day, I found literally thousands of the plants in flower. They could
easily be seen along the Hoffman Trail and the eastern half of the Roosevelt
Trail.
In contrast, very few plants emerged in 2018 and 2019. They were “anemic”
looking and produced almost no flowers. Looking back at weather data for
area weather stations, August and September of those years had above-average
nighttime temperatures. Some of you may remember this
especially for 2018 (the year of Hurricane Florence), when
we had almost no below-average nighttime temperatures
for a long string of consecutive days.
In spite of its abundance on September 10, 2017, the
species apparently has a very limited range on Bogue
Banks. There are about 120 acres of maritime forest in
the Roosevelt Natural Area, and I found the orchid on
only about half of that, thus on about 60 acres. (I did not
observe any of the orchids in the westernmost portion
of the Natural Area or on the soundward portions of
the various ridges that project toward the sound.) I
did observe a few of the orchids on undeveloped town
property between the Roosevelt Natural Area and Pine
Knoll Boulevard, but in a lower density than in the Natural
Area. A problem that the orchids may be experiencing in
both the Natural Area and on town property is the spread
and increase of the Southern Magnolia in the area (a
species that it not native to Bogue Banks). Where there is
an abundance of magnolia leaf litter, I found no (or very
few) orchids present.
Perhaps the orchid also occurs (or once occurred) in
the maritime forests of western Emerald Isle, but I have
not found it there. I do plan to check the two tracts of
maritime forests in Emerald Isle that are still somewhat
intact again this year.
!
lAikh.
In the 1970s, I found Three Birds Orchids on some undeveloped lots in Pine
Knoll Shores as far east as the “old” portion of town (i.e., Yaupon-Willow-Holly
roads area), and the species may once have occurred throughout much of the
area that is now Pine Knoll Shores. If anyone observes the species away from the
Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area and adjoining town property, I would be very
interested in knowing about it.
Obviously, the window of opportunity for a sighting is narrow, and your help
in documenting their continued presence in our area is much appreciated. If you
are able to get a picture of your sighting, please send it to me with any details
you can share. My email address is jofuss(g)ec.rr.com.
Einally, two sources of information about this species are the “Vascular Plants
of North Carolina” (authl.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora, which is a state parks website
that includes all native North Carolina vascular plant species and which has
excellent, non-technical summaries of the species) and information provided
by an internet search of “Jim Fowler photography Three Birds Orchid” and
especially “Jim Fowler photography Triphora 2017.”
John Fussell is a biologist, with primary interests in birds and plants. He has
always been intrigued by the distribution of the Three Birds Orchid in the state,
i.e., its occurrence primarily in the mountains, but also with the couple of highly
disjunct populations of at least the maritime forests in the Cape Hatteras area
and Bogue Banks—and the fact that it has not been found in any other maritime
forests in the state. In the process of redoing some of his 1970s biological survey
work, remapping the habitats of the Roosevelt Natural Area and updating the lists
of plants and birds (especially breeding birds), and searching for and mapping the
locations of rare plants, his interest in the distribution of the Three Birds Orchid on
Bogue Banks has been reignited.
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