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Arethusa bulbosa - (image 1 of 3)

Taxonomy

Family: Orchidaceae

Habitat

 Sphagnum bogs, fens, and swampy meadows.

Associates

Distribution

Newfoundland to MN, south to NJ and northern IN, and in mountains to NC and SC.

Morphology

Herbaceous perennial from a corm; scape 10-30 cm, with 1-3 loose blunt bracts toward the base; leaf 1, grass-like, arising after anthesis from within the upper bract, at maturity nearly equaling the scape, 2-4 mm wide; flowers 3-6 cm high, subtended by a pair of small bracts; sepals and petals laceolate, magenta; lip pinkish-white, spotted and streaked with purple and yellow, crested on the face with 3 fimbriate ridges, about as long as the lateral petal; column erect, petaloid, dilated at the summit.

Notes

Flowers May to June

Wetland Indicator: OBL

An attractive species that unfortunately has become rare throughout much of its range. Over collecting probably has played a role in its decline.

References

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

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