User:JackACline/sandbox

OLD STUB

Goodyera pubescens, the downy rattlesnake plantain, is one of the most common orchids native to eastern North America. It is found from Florida to Nova Scotia, west to eastern Oklahoma, Minnesota and Ontario.

Goodyera pubescens is an evergreen terrestrial herb with variegated leaves. The variegation is in the form of a densely reticulated network of veins that are a much lighter green than the rest of the leaf tissue. It is a creeping plant that divides on the ground surface and sends out short stolons. It may be terrestrial or, occasionally, epipetric, growing on rock shelves. It prefers mildly to moderately acidic soils, such as in oak-heath forests.

Goodyera pubescens along a mountain trail in central New Hampshire.

NEW STUB/Revised New Article

Goodyera pubescens, the downy rattlesnake plantain, is one of the most common orchids native to eastern North America. It is found from Florida to Nova Scotia, west to eastern Oklahoma, Minnesota and Ontario.

Goodyera pubescens is an evergreen terrestrial herb with variegated leaves. The variegation is in the form of a densely reticulated network of veins that are a much lighter green than the rest of the leaf tissue. It is a creeping plant that divides on the ground surface and sends out short stolons. It may be terrestrial or, occasionally, epipetric, growing on rock shelves. It prefers mildly to moderately acidic soils, such as in oak-heath forests.

Goodyera pubescens along a mountain trail in central New Hampshire.

Introduction
Goodyera pubescens (Wild.) R. Br., the downy rattlesnake plantain, (Also known as Peramium pubescens ) is one of the most common orchids native to eastern North America. It is found from Florida to Nova Scotia, west to eastern Oklahoma, Minnesota and Ontario.

Goodyera pubescens is an evergreen terrestrial herb with variegated leaves. The variegation is in the form of a densely reticulated network of veins that are a much lighter green than the rest of the leaf tissue. It is a creeping plant that divides on the ground surface and sends out short stolons. It may be terrestrial or, occasionally, epipetric, growing on rock shelves. It prefers mildly to moderately acidic soils, such as in oak-heath forests.

Goodyera pubescens along a mountain trail in central New Hampshire.

Description
Goodyera pubescens is a plant in the Orchidaceae (orchid) family that is commonly found in North America. The genus Goodyera are terrestrial plants with a fleshy rhizome with basal evergreen leaves in a rosette pattern - frequently having white or pale green markings. Inflorescences are in the form of a spike of small flowers, usually white with green or brown markings and have fragrant odor. Most of the plants, excluding and petals, are covered in small hairs. The primary difference between Goodyera and Spiranthes (A similar genus in the Orchidaceae family) is that Goodyera have elliptic leaves with white or pale green markings.

Goodyera pubescens flowers in mid July-early September with a small spike inflorescence of between 10 to 57 cylindric flowers. The leaves have the white-green marbling in the form of veins throughout, broadly elliptic to broadly ovate (2.1-6.2 x 1.3-3cm), with either an acute or obtuse apex. The peduncle (stem that connects the stalk to a floret) is 11-35 cm long. Flowers: Lateral sepals 3.1 - 5.3 mm long with distinct petals of 3.6 - 5.7mm. The petals lip is scrotiform (pouch shaped) 2.5 - 4.2 x 2.2 - 3.5mm in size with the apex reflexed (bent outwards) with a slightly tuberculate (bumpy/rough) outer surface. The inner surface is smoother but has thicker veins throughout. The anthers are inflexed (bent inwards) within a cup-shaped clinandrium (an orchid structure beneath the anther). The white flowers are usually atop a leafless stalk.

Goodyera pubescens has similar looking species within the Goodyera genus that it can be confused with. The Dwarf Rattlesnake plantain G. repens has smaller flowers that only have inflorescence on one side of the stalk. Both G. tesselata and G. oblongifolia are only found in Canada. Goodyera tesselata can be differentiated by its dull green leaves with much paler veins, G. oblongifolia leaves only have one primary vein compared to G. pubescens more dense network of veins. All of the rattlesnake plantains (Goodyera) are described as such because their venation resembles snakeskin.

Distribution and Habitat
Goodyera pubescens is found through much of the eastern part of North America, ranging from Florida all the way north to Ontario, going as far western as Oklahoma. (USA: AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV; Canada: NB, NS, ON, QC ).

Similar to other orchids, G. pubescens thrives in swamp-like environments. This species prefers well drained, slightly acidic soil with a somewhat high sand content. It requires a high amount of shade from shaded canopy or shrubs, but smaller shrubs can easily overtake it. High drainage is essential since orchids can have problems with the soil being over-saturated, often leading to the death of the plant. You can find this species growing in both dry and moist conditions, with a soil mixture of a sandy loam, or loam with a high clay content. It can also be found in deciduous or coniferous forests since they provide the necessary partial shade. Goodyera pubescens also functions as a National Wetland Indicator Species.

Ecology
Compared to other orchid genre, Goodyera is fairly hardy - surviving more readily in colder conditions, being able to utilize a wider variety of nutrients, and thriving in more types of soil under more broad lighting conditions. Goodyera pubescens has a germination rate of over 90% even in very cold climates, which is why it is found in very cold climates such as the northern US and Canada. This species prefers loamy soils or humus, but it will also grow into Liriodendron tulipifera or Quercus alba decaying wood with preference towards woody substrates with a high amount of fungal activity. However, the rhizomes of the plant needs for reproduction can not survive particularly harsh winters in the northern edge of its distribution.

Goodyera pubescens grows via a rhizome in a colonial pattern, flowering only once a year at maturity of 4-8 years of age. After flowering the root will have 1-3 offshoots which then generates new rosettes, creating its offspring after the parent plant dies. Most G. pubescens individuals do not survive long enough to reach the age of maturity. The mature rosettes flower after being triggered by a dry period in the spring (usually in may) when there is higher than average temperatures. These specific circumstances may not occur in a season and can take several years to happen again, explaining the long maturity time. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have a preference towards eating the leaves, rosettes, and inflorescences. As deer populations have increased over the last several decades, the number of rosettes per plant has increased to counter the number that get consumed by deer.

Uses
Goodyera pubescens is largely just seen as a plant kept for visual aesthetic in terrariums or in wildflower plantings due to its interesting leaf structure and resilience. It was once used historically as a medicinal plant by Native Americans for curing numerous ailments. The roots were made into a tea for treating lung inflammation/breathing pain and for snakebites. The leaves were used to improve appetite, cold treatment, kidney problems, joint pain reducer, or even for toothaches. The wilted leaves were used to cool burns, to deal with skin ulcers, or also as a pain reliever. These were historical or cultural uses and are no longer currently recommended.

Conservation Status
This is one of the more common species of orchids found throughout the U.S., and for the most part is not considered threatened or at risk. The only places it is of concern are in Florida and New York. In Florida this species is considered endangered. In New York it is considered exploitably vulnerable

Taxonomy
The Goodyera genus is also colloquially called the rattlesnake plantain. This is because of the snake-like venation pattern that this genus has on the leaves. Goodyera pubescens was first defined in 1813 in the Hortus Kewensis 2nd edition volume 5. Goodyera pubescens is the accepted name of this species, and the only legitimate name.

Horticulture/Cultivation
This orchid is of a desirable aesthetic to many gardeners, but keeping it alive in a non-wild setting is challenging. The infrequent sunlight, acidic soil, high fungal activity, and drainage required makes difficult to cultivate for gardens. It is only found in specialty nurseries since taking it from the wild is not condoned and will likely kill the specimen.

References[edit]

 * 1) Jump up^ Robert Brown in W.T.Aiton, Hortus Kewensis 5: 198 (1813).
 * 2) ^ Jump up to:a b Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
 * 3) Jump up^ Biota of North America Program county distribution map
 * 4) Jump up^ Flora of North America v 26 p 515, Goodyera pubescens

External links[edit]

 * Media related to Downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens) at Wikimedia Commons
 * Data related to Downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens) at Wikispecies

References[edit]

 * 1) Jump up^ Robert Brown in W.T.Aiton, Hortus Kewensis 5: 198 (1813).
 * 2) ^ Jump up to:a b Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
 * 3) Jump up^ Biota of North America Program county distribution map
 * 4) Jump up^ Flora of North America v 26 p 515, Goodyera pubescens

External links[edit]

 * Media related to Downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens) at Wikimedia Commons
 * Data related to Downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens) at Wikispecies

Evaluating content

 * Is everything in the article relevant to the article topic? Is there anything that distracted you?
 * There are no subheadings so it reads like an essay rather than an encyclopedia article.
 * Where the information shows up in the article is inconsistent (jumping back and forward between similar points)
 * Is any information out of date? Is anything missing that could be added?
 * The information is up to date it seems, plus the most recent edit was within a year ago
 * It is missing some possible points on the plant it could talk about
 * Ecology with animals or other plants
 * Uses of Lycopodium powder
 * More specific range and habitat
 * A more detailed description that isn't almost directly pulled from one of its sources
 * What else could be improved?
 * Grammar
 * Visual structure/paragraphing (using headings and such rather than randomly switching topics in the article)
 * More sources

Evaluating tone

 * Is the article neutral? Are there any claims that appear heavily biased toward a particular position?
 * The article remains neutral without focusing on a single viewpoint
 * Are there viewpoints that are overrepresented, or underrepresented?
 * It covers common names more than other information about the plant, but it's otherwise neutral in representation of the data on this plant

Evaluating sources

 * Check a few citations. Do the links work? Does the source support the claims in the article?
 * Of the 4 citations, only the first one lands on a dead page. The sources claim similar information to the plant, but the source that is just an image of a distribution map doesn't say much.
 * Is each fact referenced with an appropriate, reliable reference? Where does the information come from? Are these neutral sources? If biased, is that bias noted?
 * Of the three working citations, they each have relevant information to the plant in some fashion - with 2 of them being from acceptable sources.
 * The eFloras plant description page works, but could be to a better written source (such as the USDA one also listed)
 * The distribution map is without a legend, title, description, or anything that vetted its accuracy
 * The 2 acceptable sources (USDA and eFloras) both are neutral sources from acceptable organizations without bias

Checking the talk page

 * What kinds of conversations, if any, are going on behind the scenes about how to represent this topic?
 * Very little and all 3 comments being a few years old
 * One adds another common name with a link to a... google search... and the other removed unsourced cultivation information
 * The third removed an original research source
 * How is the article rated? Is it a part of any WikiProjects?
 * Its rated as a 'start-class' and 'low-importance'. It is marked as within the scope of the WikiProject Plants project
 * How does the way Wikipedia discusses this topic differ from the way we've talked about it in class?
 * It looks at the plant from a place of neutral understanding vs a look at how we can remember the plant or its taxonomic information. Think overall information vs relevance for the class

Where to start

 * Click on the categories at the bottom of relevant articles. These will provide you with lists of related topics.
 * Specifically search for stub articles in your field of study.
 * My choice of stub is the Goodyera pubescens plant
 * Goodyera pubescens
 * See if there is a relevant "WikiProject" related to your course.
 * Most relevant wiki project would be the WikiProject Plants
 * WikiProject Plants

Writing a new article

 * The information does not already exist on Wikipedia either under a different title or in another article.
 * Does not seem to appear in other articles
 * The topic meets Wikipedia's notability requirements.
 * Its about as notable as any other similar plant for this project.
 * The material you'd like to add warrants its own article. Often new material should be placed in existing articles.

Begin to critique
In your sandbox, begin to evaluate the articles you're interested in improving. Create a new section heading entitled "Article selection," so that others can clearly see what you're working on.

Think back to the evaluate an article assignment. Look at the article's content, tone, and sourcing.


 * Is the article's content relevant to the topic?
 * It is relevant to the plant, but it is very surface level information
 * Is it written neutrally?
 * Yes but it barely has anything written so far
 * Does each claim have a citation?
 * Each individual claim (of about 5 or 6 in a few sentences) does not have a citation, but it does have some cited claims that fit for whole paragraphs
 * Are the citations reliable?
 * The first present citation is a book without an link, so its difficult to verify (its a rather old book)
 * The other citations are mostly acceptable source wise: one is from KEW and the other from a eFlora. There is also another fairly weak distribution map

Check out the article's Talk page to see what other Wikipedians are already contributing. Consider posting some of your ideas to the article's Talk page, too.

There is no talking. It just has the potential relevance to the WikiProject and its mid-importance rating

You should begin finding potential sources that you can use to improve these articles. Make sure there is enough verifiable literature to support your proposed improvements.


 * https://vnps.org/wildflowers-of-the-year/wildflower-of-the-year-goodyera-pubescens-downy-rattlesnake-plantain/
 * https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=GOPU

Submit your list of potential articles
Discuss your choices with your instructor. Make sure your selections are clearly marked in your sandbox along with your notes to improve the articles.

Start compiling a list of relevant, reliable books, journal articles, or other sources. You can keep a running list of these sources in your sandbox to reference easily when you start writing.


 * Goodyera pubescens (First choice)
 * Agrimonia parviflora (decent stub... but its not one i particularly want to do compared to the other two.. so third choice)
 * Valerianella radiata (Second choice)