Cranichis ricartii
Encyclopedia
Cranichis ricartii is a rare species of orchid known by the common name Puerto Rico helmet orchid. It is native to Puerto Rico
, where it is known from three locations in one forest
. The plant has also been seen in Guadeloupe
. The plant's rarity is the main reason for its listing as an endangered species
of the United States.
This orchid was discovered in 1979 growing in the mountain forest habitat of the Maricao Commonwealth Forest on the west side of the island of Puerto Rico. There have been no more than 30 individuals noted in total. Though it is known to occur at three sites, it is not seen at all three sites each year. This is a serpentine endemic
plant, growing in areas that are rich in serpentine soils such as the Maricao Forest, which has over 85% serpentine substrate. This terrestrial orchid grows in the humus of the understory
of trees such as Coccoloba pirifolia, Randia aculeata
and Comocladia glabra. It can often be found with its relative, the orchid Cranichis tenuis.
This orchid grows up to 27 centimeters tall, the base of the stem surrounded by several small oval leaves up to 3.5 centimeters long by 2 wide. The inflorescence
bears a raceme
of several green flowers about 2 centimeters long by 1 wide. The plant blooms in the fall.
The plant is threatened mainly by its limited numbers and by disturbance in its habitat
. The Maricao Commonwealth Forest is a protected area but certain activities may be detrimental to the species, such as trail maintenance and selective thinning of the forest. One population was destroyed in 1995 when a road was built in the area.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, where it is known from three locations in one forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
. The plant has also been seen in Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
. The plant's rarity is the main reason for its listing as an endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
of the United States.
This orchid was discovered in 1979 growing in the mountain forest habitat of the Maricao Commonwealth Forest on the west side of the island of Puerto Rico. There have been no more than 30 individuals noted in total. Though it is known to occur at three sites, it is not seen at all three sites each year. This is a serpentine endemic
Serpentine soil
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle....
plant, growing in areas that are rich in serpentine soils such as the Maricao Forest, which has over 85% serpentine substrate. This terrestrial orchid grows in the humus of the understory
Understory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
of trees such as Coccoloba pirifolia, Randia aculeata
Randia aculeata
Randia aculeata, commonly known as white indigoberry or white indigo berry, is a species in the Rubiaceae. It is a shrub or small tree that grows from 2 to 6 m tall. R...
and Comocladia glabra. It can often be found with its relative, the orchid Cranichis tenuis.
This orchid grows up to 27 centimeters tall, the base of the stem surrounded by several small oval leaves up to 3.5 centimeters long by 2 wide. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
bears a raceme
Raceme
A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...
of several green flowers about 2 centimeters long by 1 wide. The plant blooms in the fall.
The plant is threatened mainly by its limited numbers and by disturbance in its habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
. The Maricao Commonwealth Forest is a protected area but certain activities may be detrimental to the species, such as trail maintenance and selective thinning of the forest. One population was destroyed in 1995 when a road was built in the area.