"Native orchids—known to be elegant, evolved and delicate— are among the rarest plants and habitats found in the forest preserves. Their populations are scattered in varying densities across only 500 of the 31,000 acres of natural lands we protect and manage," said Restoration Ecologist Ken Klick, who has been studying these beautiful plants for 25 years.
T
here are so many pieces of
Depending on the species, orchids
the puzzle that have to fit
can grow in woodlands, bogs, dunes,
just right to ensure that the
prairies, and wetlands. These plants
delicate plants continue to exist here
are sensitive to habitat disturbance,
in Lake County. It starts with the
especially land use changes. Before
seeds. Orchid seeds are the smallest
humans began draining wetlands to
in the plant kingdom, like dust.
make way for development and
“Think of an orchid seed as a self-
agriculture, the flowers were plentiful,
contained baby with a lunchbox,”
Klick said. At one time, grass pink
said Pati Vitt, Manager of Ecological
orchids (Calopogon tuberosus) were
Restoration. The seeds are so small
frequent in the sandy moist prairies
and have very little food reserves to
of northern Illinois. Habitat destruc-
nourish a developing embryonic
tion is a primary reason the species
orchid plant. Therefore, they have
is now on the state’s endangered list.
evolved with a close relationship
Our staff improves the health of the
with mycorrhizal fungi that provide
preserves through restoration to
carbon (food) and other resources
encourage the persnickety plants
to the developing plant.
to grow, providing a healthier ecosystem overall.
“Orchids tend to
be indicators of healthy habitat. Some of our highest quality natural areas are rich in orchid species.”
KEN KLICK, RESTORATION ECOLOGIST
Grass pink orchid (Calopogon tuberosus)
20 years. While others return to
The most common
the same place, year after year,
orchid in the forest
depending on the species.”
preserves is the nodding lady's tresses (Spiranthes cernua). This resilient species is better than most native orchids at recolonizing on degraded land, such as abandoned agriculture fields and wetland edges.
It may take 50 years for abandoned fields to return to suitable habitat for colonizing. Lady’s tresses blossom when the first fall frost arrives in October and its fragrant blooms are often smelled before seen. The orchid’s elusive nature is part of its allure. “Orchids seem to come and go,” Vitt said. “Many orchids are sporadic, they appear one year and then they’re gone for the next
Part of the plant’s mystery is why some species don’t return. For years our volunteers, a vital part of our rare plant monitoring program, have recorded the yellow lady’s slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum) at one location. Then all of a sudden, it disappeared. There is no clear answer as to why. Culprits could be frequent deer browse, change in climate, invasive species overtaking the area, flooding, or not enough controlled burning, Vitt said. Another concern is that people poach orchids, regardless of their protected status. This is the reason we don’t publicize where the flowers grow. POLLINATION One of the key drivers behind the orchid family’s vast floral diversity is that many species are exclusively pollinated by a single pollinator