Taxonomy
Family: Orchidaceae
Synonyms include Habenaria viridis, Coeloglossum bracteatum, and Dactylorhiza viridis.
Habitat
Moist woods.
Associates
Distribution
Circumboreal, south in America to NJ, MD, WV, OH, IA, and NE, and in mountains to NC and CO.
Morphology
Herbaceous perennial with fleshy, forked roots that are renewed annually; stems stout or slender, 20-50 cm; lowest 1-2 leaves reduced to bladeless sheaths; main foliage leaves three or more, obovate to oblanceolate; 5-12 cm, up to 5 cm wide, the upper gradually reduced and passing into bracts; inflorescence 5-20 cm; bracts lanceolate, foliaceous, the lower surpassing the flowers; flowers greenish, often tinged with purple; lip 6-10 mm, the margins upcurved at the base, the body obcuneately widened distally, terminating in three teeth, the central one the shortest; lateral petals lanceolate, nearly concealed by the incurved sepals; spur 2-3 mm, pouch-like, with a minute orifice.
Notes
Fruiting May to June
Wetland indicator: FAC
This species is widely distributed but populations can be difficult to find. North American and east Asian plants are var. bracteata. May be moved back to the genus Dactylorhiza in the future.
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
© Michael Hough 2018 |