User:Anejeliquem/Piperia unalascensis

Piperia unalascensis
Piperia unalascensis, also known as Slender-Spire Orchid or Alaska Rein Orchid, is a very common native orchid to North America. Easily identifiable by its strong odor, slender stature and short spur, the Piperia unalascensis is the most common species from Piperia. It has been recorded that Piperia unalascensis can survive in dry or wet soil in various elevation habitats from sea level to the top of mountains at 9,000 feet.

Description
Flower color is a trait used to distinguish certain tax of ''Piperia. Piperia unalascensis'' typically produce green flowers. Depending on habitat, elevation and latitude, flowers will appear as early as April in California and August for higher elevation areas. This species is often identified by the appearances of the basal green leaves that are faded, small flowers, its ovoid roots, parallel anther cells, slender stature and absent auricles. When flowers bloom the spur is narrow due to the lip being horizontal and close to the column. The short spur will allow for the pollinator to make contact with the viscidium when probing for nectar and at the same time will cause pollen removal. As the flowers age, the lip will lower and the spur will expand allowing insects to pollinate the flower. However, movement of the lip will cause for pollen to not be removed due to the position of the viscidia above the lip. The flowers produce a very distinct "musky" odor that is usually at night that can still be noticed during the day. Piperia unalascensis can grow to a maximum of 70 centimeters in height and leaves that are up to twenty centimeters long. It also has a high affinity for other Piperia species such as Piperia elongata and Piperia elegans.

Taxonomy
The first scientific description of Piperia unalascensis was from Kurt Sprengel. The original genus was Habenaria, until Habenaria was reassesed by Dressler and Dodson. In 1901, Rydberg used diagnostic features of each genera to separate them. Piperia and Platanthera were determined to be close relatives with Platanthera having larger seed, embryos, and smooth testa cell walls.

Distribution and Habitat
Piperia unalascensis is the most wide spread species in Piperia. It is far-ranging from Baja California all the way up Quebec, Canada and into Alaska in the Aleutian Islands. Western parts of the United States (US) have reported this species growing in Utah, New Mexico, South Dakota, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and surrounding areas. It has been recorded to grow in open conifer, mixed evergreen, scrubland or along costal roads and can grow in anything from full to partial shade. Mesic conifer forests are the most common habitat for successful growth with a natural elevation range in-between 0 and 3,000 meters (0 to 9,800 feet). It has also been documented to grow and survive in both wet organic soil and dry soil depending on location.

Pollination
Known for its short spur, this species will need a specific species of moth for pollination. Pyralid moths (Oidacmatophorus Wallengren sp.) and plume moths (Platyptilia Habner sp.) have been recorded pollinating this species one to three hours past sunset. They pollinate the flowers from the bottom upwards. Moths remove the pollen as flowers open and the lip tilts downward uncovering the pollen for removal.

Mycorrhizae
Association with mycorrhizae fungus is necessary prior to germination for successful development. Sistotrema fungi, a genus of saprotrophic fungi, was successfully isolated however, no further research has been done to explain this mycorrhizal association.

Conservation status is listed at Secure.