2010-07-15_REPORT - M1988044 (2)

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Blue grama (co-dominant) Western wheatgrass (co-dominant) Hairy golden aster Evening primrose Horseweed Alyssum Lupine Needlegrass Downy brome Prickly poppy Fringed sage Yucca Russian thistle Kochia Yellow sweet clover White sweet clover Oat Alfalfa Fleabane Salsify Coral root orchid various yellow Asteraceae The coral root orchid was a completely unexpected find. This saprophytic orchid is inhabiting the roots of fringed sage, which is not particularly unusual. Although initially it was felt this find was unusual and of special importance, it turns out that it probably is not that uncommon in this area. Although this orchid normally lives in the mountains and particularly in the Montane zone, it probably has moved eastward along the Palmer Divide which is essentially Montane. From there its incredibly small seeds were probably carried northward on the wind and found a home on this site which is borderline Montane. Lower Montane conditions exist just a short ways south of this area. This species is probably also found in the natural vegetation here, although it is undoubtedly very difficult to find and only produces it bronze or copper colored shoots and small, but exceptionally beautiful spotted flowers when the season is just right. Otherwise, it survives by drawing nutrition for its roots from a host plant which, in this case, is fringed sage. These particular plants were dried with dead shoots but had sufficient material left to identify it as one of the coral roots. Species was indefinite. When it does bloom it probably does so sometime between the middle of May and early June. It grows, blooms and sets seed very quickly so finding it in bloom is more a matter of luck than skill. One of many plants found in a localized area still had a seed pod present that looked like it successfully set and dispersed seeds. Because these plants are inhabiting a resident species it is likely they arrived via the spreading of topsoil containing fringed sage roots that had already been invaded by the orchid. The fringed sage roots produced shoots and plants and then the orchid came along after the sage had become established. Although these orchids are essentially semi-parasitic, they do not harm the host plant thus ensuring their own Status report for 2009 due July 15, 2010 Page 9 of 11