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Pelchat: SPIRANTHES PARKSII CORRELL – NAVASOTA LADIES’-TRESSES hairs can be observed in the throat of the corolla formed by the lip, dorsal sepal and petals, (Figure 3). The distinctive oval shape of the petals (Correll 1947) can be seen, in the field, under close observation with a loupe or through the lens of a camera. The floral bract is white tipped which is often referred to as a single identifying characteristic of this orchid, but (in this authors experience) cannot in itself be used as a single characteristic for identification because S. cernua can also show a tendency for whitening of the floral bracts. Overall the flower shape is quite distinctive in that it appears to be short and fat. When viewed from the side, the flower from the ovary to the tip of the dorsal sepal forms an arch giving the flower a humped shape in relation to its length and width and extends horizontally from the rachis instead of drooping or nodding as in the case of S. cernua. The dorsal sepal extends just beyond the petals, curls upward at the apex, and has a cleft at the apex. The lateral sepals hug the corolla tightly and look like 2 upturned horns following the lines of the upturned apex of the dorsal sepal and extending a little beyond it. The flower coloring is white with variations from creamy yellow to white in the center of the lip and yellow to light green coloring running through the petals from the base to the midpoint. In the same location and blooming simultaneously, as mentioned above, with Spiranthes parksii is S. cernua, (Fig. 4). These plants include examples of the sexual and asexual apomictic types, along with peloric forms as well as the “cleistapogamic” characteristic referred to by C. Sheviak, (Sheviak, 1982) (Fig. 5). I have also observed examples of S. parksii that appear to be apomictic, and exhibit some peloria, (Fig. 6). These plants have monstrous looking flowers that are tightly closed with the lip barely protruding pointing straight up parallel with the axis of the stem. On some of the flowers the lateral sepals are at an angle away from the corolla and many of the unopened flowers below at the bottom of the spike are already withering while the ovaries are swelling. Another most unusual characteristic was the almost completely white floral bracts. Close examination of these 30
Pelchat: SPIRANTHES PARKSII CORRELL – NAVASOTA LADIES’-TRESSES revealed fine green striping running lengthwise to the apex, but they were mostly white. I have observed the same white coloring in the ovaries of peloric forms of S. cernua. I have also observed plants that seem to be intermediate between S. cernua and S. parksii in that they have the general appearance of S. parksii with regards to general flower shape, presentation of the lateral sepals and white tipped floral bracts, however the lip margin is much more undulate and the lateral sepals are not as closely pressed to the corolla. C. Sheviak noted that S. parksii is linked to the S. cernua complex “by its reproductive mode and some morphological characteristics and indeed is likely related” (Sheviak 1982). I believe that further, more detailed, studies of S. parksii are required to understand its standing within the S. cernua complex and will lead to a clearer understanding of the origin of this plant. Conservation Earlier in this article I made mention of Lick Creek Park and the bike trails that destroyed the on going study being conducted by Hugh Wilson from the Texas A & M University. In this case the community of College Station wanted recreational mountain bike trails and the best habitat for this type of recreation happens to be prime habitat for Spiranthes parksii – humans 1, orchids 0. Repeated attempts by Hugh Wilson to have the area set aside as a preservation area fell on deaf ears, both at the community level and the national level, e.g. the Federal Government and the Nature Conservancy. Even Texas Highway 6 was allowed to proceed through prime S. parksii habitat once a so called mitigation plan, involving a preservation area now referred to as a weed lot, (Wilson unpublished), was built – humans 2, orchids 0. The most disturbing example of habitat destruction for S. parksii, however, is the clear cutting of trees in documented S. parksii habitat (remember it is essentially a woodland orchid) for the purpose of building the giant Texas A&M bonfire in the name of tradition and school spirit – humans 3, orchids 0, they [the orchids] are out! In 1994 Hugh Wilson made repeated attempts to save this habitat from destruction, both to the Texas A&M University administration, and to the 31
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