Cleistesiopsis oricamporum P.M.Br.

FRAGRANT POGONIA; COASTAL PLAIN POGONIA

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Based on AFLPs, rps16 length, and three plastid microsatellites, Smith et al. (2004) showed that a Florida and coastal North Carolina population of C. bifiara were closely related, while a West Virginia population and montane North Carolina population of C. bifaria were closely related to a coastal North Carolina population of C. divaricata. Based on these data the authors concluded that they were "unable to make any clear species distinctions" among the populations of C. bifaria and a "wider sampling" would be necessary. Later, a new species was then described for the coastal plain population (incl. Florida), C. oricamporum (plants larger, flowers with vanilla-like fragrance, floral bract equal to or shorter than the pedicellate flower), and distinguished from the Appalachian C. bifaria s.s. (plants smaller, flower without vanilla-like fragrance, floral bracts longer than the pedicellate flower). Cleistesiopsis oricamporum is here recognized, although a thorough analysis with wider sampling in the genus is warranted.

Native Rare-State

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