Taxon Report

Piperia michaelii (Greene) Rydb.

Michael's rein orchid

Print Report

Species Description:
Piperia michaelii, commonly known as Michael's rein orchid, is a perennial herb in the Orchidaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Closed-cone coniferous forest, Coastal bluff scrub, Coastal scrub, and Lower montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 3 to 915 meters. Piperia michaelii is ranked 4.2, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Piperia michaelii (Greene) Rydb.
Common Name:	Michael's rein orchid
Family:	Orchidaceae
Element Code:	PMORC1X110
USDA Plants Symbol:	PIMI6
Synonyms/Other Names:	Piperia elongata Rydb. ssp. michaelii (Greene) Ackerman

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Aug	Apr-Aug
Elevation:	3-915 (10-3000)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Closed-cone coniferous forest, Coastal bluff scrub, Coastal scrub, Lower montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	4.2
Global Rank:	G3
State Rank:	S3
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_SBBG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	0
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	0

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Alameda (ALA), Contra Costa (CCA), Lake (LAK), Marin (MRN), Merced (MER), Monterey (MNT), San Benito (SBT), San Luis Obispo (SLO), San Mateo (SMT), Santa Clara (SCL), Santa Cruz (SCR), Tuolumne (TUO), Ventura (VEN)(?)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Antioch South (3712187), Cedar Mtn. (3712155), Clayton (3712188), Clearlake Highlands (3812286), Davenport (3712212), Hayward (3712261), Hepsedam Peak (3612037), Lopez Mtn. (3512035), Marina (3612167), Mindego Hill (3712232), Monterey (3612158), Newbury Park (3411828), Old Man Mountain (3411954), Pacheco Pass (3712112), Palo Alto (3712242), Prunedale (3612176), San Benito Mtn. (3612036), San Luis Obispo (3512036), San Quentin (3712284), Seaside (3612157), Soberanes Point (3612148), Sonora (3712084), Tassajara (3712177), Tomales (3812228), Watsonville West (3612187)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	0 %

Notes



Recent surveys in VEN Co. have been unsuccessful. Known from SCZ Isl. from a single collection in 1968. Possibly threatened by road widening. See Bulletin of the California Academy of Sciences 1:282 (1885) for original description, Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 28:640 (1901) for revised nomenclature, and The Wild Orchids of California, p. 126-128 (1995) by R. Coleman for species account.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 22 January 2025].