Prescottia oligantha (Sw.) Lindl.
Small Flowered Prescottia
Facts About
Accepted Synonyms: Cranichis micrantha, Prescottia tenuis
Prescottia oligantha, commonly known as the Small Flowered Prescottia, is distributed throughout the West Indies, Mexico, Central America, South America, and Miami-Dade County, Florida. This orchid produces 2-4 leaves arranged in a basal rosette that often start to whither at flowering time. The inflorescence has numerous, non-resupinate flowers arranged in a dense terminal spike. The reflexed flower petals are pinkish and the erect labellum is white enclosing the column. This slender orchid blooms in February in the deeply shaded rockland hardwood hammocks of the Everglades National Park.
Prescottia oligantha is apparently secure across its global range due to widespread populations in the West Indies, Mexico, Central America and South America. However this orchid is endangered in Florida and may be extirpated in some of its previously known locations.
Pollination
Wasps and flies
Ecosystem Type
Forests, woodlands
Characteristics
- Habitat:
- terrestrial
- Leaf arrangement:
- basal
- Number of leaves on stem:
-
- two
- three
- four
- Form of the labellum:
- the labellum is not pouch-like
- Labellum outline:
- the labellum is simple
- Main color of labellum:
-
- green to brown
- pink to red
- white
- Nectar spur:
- absent
- Inflorescence type:
- the inflorescence is a spike
- Labellum characteristics:
-
- the labellum is saccate
- the labellum is simple
- Labellum length:
- 1–2 mm
- Sepal length:
- 1–2 mm
- Plant height:
- 10–30 cm
-
Flowers
- Floral bract length:
- Up to 2 mm
- Flower petal color:
-
- green
- pink
- Flower symmetry:
- the flower is zygomorphic
- Flowering date:
- February
- Flowers per inflorescence:
- 10–50
- Form of the labellum:
- the labellum is not pouch-like
- Hairs on inflorescence axis:
- the inflorescence stem is hairless
- Inflorescence type:
- the inflorescence is a spike
- Labellum characteristics:
-
- the labellum is saccate
- the labellum is simple
- Labellum length:
- 1–2 mm
- Labellum outline:
- the labellum is simple
- Labellum position:
- the flowers are non-resupinate
- Lower petal strongly red-veined:
- no
- Main color of labellum:
-
- green to brown
- pink to red
- white
- Nectar spur:
- absent
- Number of stamens:
- 1
- Orientation of side petals:
- the lateral petals are declined
- Self-pollinating flowers:
- there are no cleistogamous flowers
- Sepal length:
- 1–2 mm
- Sepals fused only to sepals:
- the sepals are separate from one another
- Spots on labellum:
- no
-
Fruits or seeds
- Fruit length:
- Up to 4 mm
- Fruit width:
- Up to 3 mm
- Seed capsule orientation:
- the capsule points upwards or outwards
-
Growth form
- Plant height:
- 10–30 cm
- Roots:
- the rhizomes are non-coralloid
- Underground organs:
- slender roots
- myco-heterotrophic or not:
- the plant is chlorophyllous
-
Leaves
- Bract relative length:
- bracts may be variable, both longer and shorter than the flower
- Leaf arrangement:
- basal
- Leaf blade edges:
- the leaf edges are entire
- Leaf blade length:
- 30–70 mm
- Leaf blade length to width ratio:
- 1.8–3
- Leaf blade shape:
- elliptic
- Leaf blade tip:
- the tip of the leaf blade is acute
- Leaf blade width:
- 10–40 mm
- Leaves during flowering:
- leaves are present during flowering
- Number of leaves on stem:
-
- two
- three
- four
-
Place
- Ecosystem type:
-
- forests
- woodlands
- Habitat:
- terrestrial
- Location:
- Florida
-
Facts and Uses
- Mycorrhiza
- Monitoring
- Propagation
- Restoration
Native to North America
Yes
North American Conservation Status & Distribution
Conservation Status
Conservation and Wetland Status | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Apparently Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | N/A |
Conservation status for: Florida | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Apparently Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Florida Rank | Highly State Rare |
Florida Status | Endangered |
Canadian Status | N/A |
Wetland Status | Upland |