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NORTH AMERICAN<br />
NATIVE ORCHID JOURNAL<br />
Volume 15(4) 2009<br />
IN THIS ISSUE:<br />
WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF<br />
NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE
<strong>The</strong> North American N<strong>at</strong>ive Orchid Journal (ISSN 1084-7332) is a public<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
devoted to promoting interest and knowledge of the <strong>n<strong>at</strong>ive</strong> <strong>orchid</strong>s of North<br />
America. A limited number of the print version of each issue of the Journal are<br />
available upon request and electronic versions are available to all interested<br />
persons or institutions free of charge. <strong>The</strong> Journal welcomes articles of any<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ure th<strong>at</strong> deal with <strong>n<strong>at</strong>ive</strong> or introduced <strong>orchid</strong>s th<strong>at</strong> are found growing wild<br />
in North America, primarily <strong>north</strong> of Mexico, although articles of general<br />
interest concerning Mexican species will always be welcome.
NORTH AMERICAN<br />
NATIVE ORCHID JOURNAL<br />
Volume 15 (4) 2009<br />
CONTENTS<br />
NOTES FROM THE EDITORS<br />
202<br />
WILD ORCHIDS<br />
OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS<br />
OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Paul Martin Brown & Stan Folsom<br />
203<br />
Unless otherwise credited, all drawings in this issue are by Stan Folsom and photographs by<br />
P.M. Brown.<br />
<strong>The</strong> opinions expressed in the Journal are those of the authors. Scientific articles may be<br />
subject to peer review and popular articles will be examined for both accuracy and scientific<br />
content.<br />
Volume 15(4): 202-272 issued November 23, 2009.<br />
Copyright 2009 by the North American N<strong>at</strong>ive Orchid Journal<br />
Cover: Cypripedium acaule by Stan Folsom
NOTES FROM THE EDITORS<br />
<strong>The</strong> summer of 2009 was a special one as your senior editor and Stan<br />
Folsom spent many hours in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and<br />
Maine and here is the result. This issue is set up in field guide style. Please note<br />
th<strong>at</strong> descriptions and references apply to the <strong>orchid</strong>s as they are found in this<br />
region and not necessarily throughout their range.<br />
Volume 16 number 1 will be available in January-February 2010 and will<br />
be a special issue focusing on the propag<strong>at</strong>ion, cultiv<strong>at</strong>ion, and reintroduction of<br />
North American <strong>n<strong>at</strong>ive</strong> <strong>orchid</strong>s. This special issue will be a collection of<br />
scientific and popular articles by authors from throughout North America<br />
discussing topics as diverse as symbiotic seed germin<strong>at</strong>ion to plant<br />
reintroduction. Articles will represent a mixture of primary research, personal<br />
stories, and review-style contributions.<br />
<strong>The</strong> electronic form<strong>at</strong> continues to be well received and we now reach<br />
more than 1800 readers. Back issues from volume 3 (1997) to present are now<br />
available online and you may read the current and back issues <strong>at</strong>:<br />
http://wiki.terr<strong>orchid</strong>.org/tow:<strong>journal</strong>s<br />
<strong>The</strong> current upd<strong>at</strong>e of the North American Personal Checklist is also<br />
available <strong>at</strong> th<strong>at</strong> website. <strong>The</strong> checklist will be upd<strong>at</strong>ed as needed with new taxa<br />
noted.<br />
Paul Martin Brown, Editor<br />
na<strong>orchid</strong>@aol.com<br />
10896 SW 90 th Terrace, Ocala, FL 34481<br />
36 Avenue F, Acton, Maine 04001 (June- early October)<br />
Scott L. Stewart, PhD. Associ<strong>at</strong>e Editor<br />
slstewar@gmail.com<br />
Kankakee Community College<br />
Horticulture & Agriculture Programs<br />
100 College Drive<br />
Kankakee, Illinois 60901<br />
202
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS<br />
OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Paul Martin Brown & Stan Folsom<br />
<strong>The</strong> White Mountains of New Hampshire and adjacent Maine cover much of the central portion of the<br />
former and only just reach into Maine in Oxford County. Extending in the west from the Connecticut River<br />
Valley east through the Presidentials and the New Hampshire/Maine border and south to the Lake Chocorua<br />
and Rumney areas these hills and mountains are laden with a diverse flora and some of the rarest plants to be<br />
found in North America. Just <strong>north</strong> of Route 2 lies the Pilot Range and the Kilkenny Mountains. Although not<br />
contiguous with the main portion of the White Mountain N<strong>at</strong>ional Forest (WMNF) this section is well worth<br />
exploring for an abundance of <strong>orchid</strong>s as well as the only area th<strong>at</strong> has Spiranthes casei. <strong>The</strong> study area covered all<br />
of the White Mountain N<strong>at</strong>ional Forest and adjacent local, st<strong>at</strong>e, and federal conserv<strong>at</strong>ion lands.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>orchid</strong>s found in this region are typical of much of New England but represent the <strong>north</strong>ern limits<br />
of several more southern species such as Isotria medeoloides, Goodyera pubescens, Corallorhiza odontorhiza, and<br />
Triphora trianthophoros. As often happens <strong>at</strong> the limit of the range large popul<strong>at</strong>ions may be found of species<br />
such as the Triphora and Corallorhiza.<br />
Although much of the territory is backwoods and has limited accessibility, many of the <strong>orchid</strong>s are<br />
easily seen along roadsides and trails. A spring drive on the Kancamagus Highway will have the road shoulders<br />
littered with pink lady‖s-slippers in all shades of pink and many white ones as well. Bear Notch Road is equally<br />
as rewarding and may present several other species over the summer months. Route 302 through Crawford<br />
Notch often has excellent colonies of large purple fringed <strong>orchid</strong>s in l<strong>at</strong>e July and for the more adventuresome<br />
the Bog Dam Loop Rd. in the Kilkenny‖s never fails to please. Hiking trails th<strong>at</strong> can be rewarding <strong>orchid</strong>wise are<br />
those in Evan‖s Notch, the Wild River area, and the various Ammonoosuc trails. Even the more popular and<br />
often heavily used trails near the various campgrounds and picnic areas still harbor many <strong>orchid</strong>s<br />
Over 50 years of exploring this region culmin<strong>at</strong>ed in a concentr<strong>at</strong>ed effort in 2009 to document all of the<br />
known <strong>orchid</strong> species from the WMNF and not surprisingly resulted in four species not before recorded from<br />
the WMNF – Arethusa bulbosa, Pogonia ophioglossoides, Liparis loeselii, and Spiranthes casei.<br />
As rugged as much of terrain is, the trailsides and wetlands are exceedingly fragile. PLEASE use<br />
extreme caution when observing and photographing the wild <strong>orchid</strong>s. Most of the species found in this<br />
area are st<strong>at</strong>e listed as endangered or thre<strong>at</strong>ened and one species, Isotria medeoloides, is listed as federally<br />
thre<strong>at</strong>ened. Collection of any plant m<strong>at</strong>erial, for any reason, within the White Mountain N<strong>at</strong>ional Forest<br />
is strictly prohibited and outside of the forest requires landowner and/or st<strong>at</strong>e permission.<br />
More details on all of these species and their myriad of color and growth forms may be found in our<br />
recent public<strong>at</strong>ion Wild Orchids of the Northeast (University Press of Florida, 2007). Only the color and growth<br />
forms th<strong>at</strong> have been found within the region are listed in this work.<br />
Paul Martin Brown & Stan Folsom<br />
203
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
1. Kancamagus Highway<br />
2. Bear Notch Rd.<br />
3. Crawford Notch<br />
4. Evan‖s Notch<br />
5. Wild River Rd.<br />
1<br />
2<br />
6. Bog Dam Loop Rd.<br />
3<br />
2<br />
Two excellent map resources for the region are:<br />
6<br />
2<br />
2<br />
http://www.st<strong>at</strong>eparks.com/gmaps/curloc<strong>at</strong>ion.asp?l<strong>at</strong>=44.16667&lon<br />
=-71.50028&z=12<br />
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/maps/loc<strong>at</strong>ion_map<br />
.php<br />
204<br />
5<br />
2<br />
4<br />
2
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
CHECKLIST OF THE WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAIN REGION OF NEW<br />
HAMPSHIRE AND ADJACENT MAINE<br />
Many of the <strong>orchid</strong>s are found in all four counties – Carroll, Grafton, Coös, New Hampshire<br />
& Oxford, Maine; those th<strong>at</strong> are restricted are noted.<br />
Arethusa bulbosa<br />
dragon’s-mouth Carroll, Grafton<br />
Coeloglossum viride var. virescens<br />
long bracted green orchis Coös, Oxford<br />
Corallorhiza macul<strong>at</strong>a var. macul<strong>at</strong>a<br />
spotted coralroot<br />
Corallorhiza macul<strong>at</strong>a var. occidentalis<br />
western spotted coralroot<br />
Corallorhiza odontorhiza<br />
autumn coralroot<br />
Corallorhiza trifida<br />
early coralroot<br />
Cypripedium acaule<br />
pink lady’s-slipper, moccasin flower<br />
Cypripedium arietinum<br />
ram’s-head lady’s-slipper Coös<br />
Cypripedium parviflorum var. makasin<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern small yellow lady’s-slipper Coös<br />
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens<br />
large yellow lady’s-slipper Grafton<br />
Epipactis helleborine<br />
broad-leaved helleborine<br />
Goodyera pubescens<br />
downy r<strong>at</strong>tlesnake orchis<br />
Goodyera repens<br />
lesser r<strong>at</strong>tlesnake orchis Coös<br />
Goodyera tessel<strong>at</strong>a<br />
checkered r<strong>at</strong>tlesnake orchis<br />
Gymnadeniopsis clavell<strong>at</strong>a var. clavell<strong>at</strong>a<br />
little club-spur orchis<br />
Gymnadeniopsis clavell<strong>at</strong>a var. ophioglossoides<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern club spur orchis<br />
Isotria medeoloides<br />
small whorled pogonia Carroll<br />
Listera auricul<strong>at</strong>a<br />
auricled twayblade Coös<br />
Listera convallarioides<br />
broad-lipped twayblade Coös, Oxford<br />
205<br />
Listera cord<strong>at</strong>a<br />
heart-leaved twayblade<br />
Malaxis unifolia<br />
green adder’s-mouth<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera aquilonis<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern green bog orchis Coös<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera dil<strong>at</strong><strong>at</strong>a<br />
tall white <strong>north</strong>ern bog orchis<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera grandiflora<br />
large purple fringed orchis<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera hookeri<br />
Hooker’s orchis<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera huronensis<br />
green bog orchis<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera lacera<br />
green fringed orchis, ragged orchis<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera macrophylla<br />
Goldie’s pad-leaved orchis<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera obtus<strong>at</strong>a<br />
blunt-leaved rein orchis Coös<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera orbicul<strong>at</strong>a<br />
pad-leaved orchis<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera psycodes<br />
small purple fringed orchis<br />
Pogonia ophioglossoides<br />
rose pogonia; snakemouth <strong>orchid</strong> Carroll,<br />
Grafton<br />
Spiranthes casei<br />
Case’s ladies’-tresses Coös<br />
Spiranthes cernua<br />
nodding ladies’-tresses<br />
Spiranthes lacera var. lacera<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern slender ladies’-tresses<br />
Spiranthes ochroleuca<br />
yellow ladies’-tresses<br />
Spiranthes romanzoffiana<br />
hooded ladies’-tresses<br />
Triphora trianthophoros<br />
three birds <strong>orchid</strong> Carroll, Oxford
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
ARETHUSA is a small genus found in eastern North America and Japan. <strong>The</strong><br />
brilliantly colored flowers are a fe<strong>at</strong>ure of many of the bogs and fens of<br />
<strong>north</strong>eastern North America.<br />
Arethusa bulbosa Linnaeus<br />
dragon’s-mouth<br />
Range: southern Manitoba east to Newfoundland, and south to<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern South Carolina, west to <strong>north</strong>ern Indiana and central<br />
Minnesota<br />
In the White Mountains region: very rare; found in the WMNF for<br />
the first time in 2009; well-established in Sugar Hill for many years<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 4-15 (20) cm tall<br />
Leaves: 1; linear, 0.3-1.2 cm wide and 5.0-23.0 cm long; appressed to the<br />
flowering stem when young and continuing to develop as the plant m<strong>at</strong>ures<br />
Flowers: usually 1, occasionally 2-4; rose, rich pink, or magenta or, in the<br />
forma albiflora, flowers pure white or, in the forma subcaerulea, lilac-blue;<br />
individual flower size 1-3 cm; mini<strong>at</strong>ure individuals, with flowers no more than<br />
0.5 cm tall, rarely occur<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: sphagnum bogs, fens, and seeps<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e spring<br />
To many <strong>n<strong>at</strong>ive</strong> <strong>orchid</strong> enthusiasts Arethusa is the ultim<strong>at</strong>e gem of the <strong>north</strong>ern<br />
affinity bogs and fens. Although it is one of the commonest <strong>orchid</strong>s in the far<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern portion of its range and is one of the first of the showy ―bog pinks‖ to<br />
flower each spring, in central and <strong>north</strong>ern New Hampshire it is very rare.<br />
Plants often appear leafless <strong>at</strong> flowering time, as the emerging grass-like leaf is<br />
nearly appressed to<br />
the flower stalk,<br />
although it will<br />
elong<strong>at</strong>e l<strong>at</strong>er in the<br />
season. <strong>The</strong> beautiful<br />
pink flowers are<br />
distinctive and could only be<br />
confused (<strong>at</strong> a distance) with the<br />
rose pogonia, Pogonia ophioglossoides,<br />
with which it frequently<br />
grows.<br />
206
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
COELOGLOSSUM is a monotypic circumpolar genus. <strong>The</strong> plants occur<br />
in a variety of habit<strong>at</strong>s in boreal and mountainous area throughout much<br />
of the <strong>north</strong>ern hemisphere. Two varieties are known and a third variety,<br />
var. interjecta, intermedi<strong>at</strong>e between both the predomin<strong>at</strong>ely Eurasian var.<br />
viride and the widespread North America var. virescens, was described by<br />
Fernald but appears to be based upon plants with the leaves appressed to<br />
the stem r<strong>at</strong>her than wide-spreading. Recent molecular studies have placed<br />
this genus within the genus Dactylorhiza, but Sheviak and C<strong>at</strong>ling (FNA<br />
2002) have chosen to recognize the two genera as separ<strong>at</strong>e but closely<br />
rel<strong>at</strong>ed.<br />
Coeloglossum viride (Linnaeus) Hartman var. virescens<br />
(Mühlenberg) Luer<br />
long-bracted green orchis<br />
Range: Alaska east to Newfoundland, south to Washington,<br />
New Mexico, Iowa, and North Carolina<br />
In the White Mountains region: very rare in mesic<br />
woodlands in the vicinity of Wild River<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 20-80 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 3-5; 2 cm wide and up to 30 cm long passing into slender<br />
floral bracts<br />
Flowers: 8-35; the linear petals and ov<strong>at</strong>e sepals forming a<br />
hood; the lip oblong and notched <strong>at</strong> the tip; flowers<br />
subtended by bracts distinctly exceeding the flowers; petals<br />
and sepals green, the lip often suffused with purple; spur<br />
minute and inconspicuous<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: deciduous mesic woodlands, open coniferous<br />
forests, often along roadsides and trails<br />
Flowering period: June to August<br />
207<br />
<strong>The</strong> long-bracted green<br />
orchis, despite its color<strong>at</strong>ion, is<br />
a conspicuous and distinctive<br />
member of the woodland<br />
<strong>orchid</strong> flora of eastern North<br />
America. <strong>The</strong> long, slender<br />
bracts subtending each flower<br />
give rise to the common name,<br />
and upon close examin<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
reveal the distinctive notched<br />
lip. After pollin<strong>at</strong>ion the floral<br />
parts remain on the plant so as<br />
to appear still in flower many<br />
weeks after anthesis.
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
<strong>The</strong> genus CORALLORHIZA has 13 species throughout North America and Hispaniola. One species, C. trifida, is<br />
widespread across Eurasia. <strong>The</strong> plants are entirely mycotrophic and some are thought to be saprophytes. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
arise from a coralloid rhizome, hence the name. <strong>The</strong> entire genus is easily recognizable from its leafless stems,<br />
although they may be variously colored, and by their small flowers.<br />
Three species and two varieties may be found within the White Mountains region<br />
Key to the coralroots, Corallorhiza<br />
1a autumn flowering…2<br />
1b spring and/or summer flowering…3<br />
2a flowers chasmogamous; stems slender, brownish; petals and sepals indistinct, lip fully expanded white<br />
with purple spotting; autumn flowering... .....Pringle’s autumn coralroot, Corallorhiza odontorhiza var.<br />
pringlei<br />
2b flowers cleistogamous, flower very small, less than 3 mm, autumn flowering.....autumn coralroot,<br />
Corallorhiza odontorhiza var. odontorhiza<br />
3a spring flowering, stems green to yellow; lip white with 2 l<strong>at</strong>eral lobes or teeth; plain or (rarely)<br />
spotted.....early coralroot, Corallorhiza trifida<br />
3b summer flowering…4<br />
4a stems stout; variously colored; petals and sepals distinct, l<strong>at</strong>e spring-summer flowering;<br />
sides of lip broadened, flowers open wide.....western spotted coralroot, Corallorhiza macul<strong>at</strong>a var.<br />
occidentalis<br />
4b midsummer flowering; sides of lip parallel..... spotted coralroot, Corallorhiza macul<strong>at</strong>a var. macul<strong>at</strong>a<br />
208
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Corallorhiza macul<strong>at</strong>a (Rafinesque) Rafinesque var. macul<strong>at</strong>a<br />
spotted coralroot<br />
forma flavida (Peck) Farwell–yellow-stemmed form<br />
forma rubra P.M. Brown–red-stemmed form<br />
Range: British Columbia east to Newfoundland, south to California,<br />
Arizona, and New Mexico; in the Appalachian Mountains south to<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern Georgia and South Carolina<br />
In the White Mountains region: occasional throughout, usually in<br />
open woodlands<br />
Plant: terrestrial, mycotrophic, 20-50 cm tall; stems bronzy-tan or, in the<br />
forma flavida, bright yellow, or in the forma rubra, red<br />
Leaves: none<br />
Flowers: 5-20; tepals typically brownish or, in the forma flavida, bright<br />
yellow or, in the forma rubra, red; lip white, spotted with madder purple;<br />
in the forma flavida, unspotted or, in the forma rubra, spotted with bright<br />
red; lip with the middle lobe not expanded, the sides obviously parallel;<br />
individual flowers 5.0-7.5 mm, the floral parts not wide-spreading and<br />
appearing somewh<strong>at</strong> cupped; individual flowers 5.0-7.5 mm, mentum obscure<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: rich mesic and mixed forests<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e May to July<br />
<strong>The</strong> spotted coralroot is the most frequently encountered species of coralroot<br />
found within eastern North America and is widespread and rel<strong>at</strong>ively common<br />
throughout much of the Northeastern. <strong>The</strong> vari<strong>at</strong>ion in the stem color is<br />
usually evident in even small popul<strong>at</strong>ions. Annual popul<strong>at</strong>ions vary gre<strong>at</strong>ly and<br />
often colonize disturbed areas.<br />
forma rubra<br />
209
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Corallorhiza macul<strong>at</strong>a (Rafinesque) Rafinesque var. occidentalis (Lindley) Ames<br />
western spotted coralroot<br />
forma aurea P.M. Brown–golden yellow/spotted form<br />
forma immacul<strong>at</strong>a (Peck) Howell–yellow spotless form<br />
forma intermedia Farwell–brown-stemmed form<br />
forma punicea (Bartholomew) We<strong>at</strong>herby & Adams–red-stemmed form<br />
Range: British Columbia east to Newfoundland, south to<br />
California, Arizona, New Mexico, Minnesota, New England and<br />
Virginia<br />
In the White Mountains region: rare to occasional throughout,<br />
usually in open mixed woodlands<br />
Plant: terrestrial, mycotrophic, 20-50 cm tall; stems bronzy-tan or,<br />
in the forma immacul<strong>at</strong>a, yellow or, in the forma intermedia, the<br />
stems brown or, in the forma punicea, the stems strikingly deep red<br />
Leaves: none<br />
Flowers: 5-20+; tepals typically colored bronzy-tan as the stems or,<br />
in the forma intermedia, the stems brown or, in the forma punicea,<br />
the stems strikingly deep red with the lip spotted in purple or dark<br />
red, in the forma immacul<strong>at</strong>a, yellow to white the lip lacking all<br />
spotting; lip with the middle lobe expanded, the sides obviously<br />
broadened; individual flowers 5.0-7.5 mm, the floral parts wide spreading,<br />
mentum obscure<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: rich mesic and mixed forests<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e May to July<br />
<strong>The</strong> common name western<br />
spotted coralroot is somewh<strong>at</strong><br />
misleading as this<br />
variety extends eastward<br />
through the Gre<strong>at</strong> Lakes<br />
region to Newfoundland and<br />
south, sparingly, to West<br />
Virginia. Northward both the<br />
nomin<strong>at</strong>e variety and var.<br />
occidentalis may occur in the<br />
same woodlands and are<br />
usually well separ<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
in flowering time.<br />
<strong>The</strong> broad lip easily<br />
separ<strong>at</strong>es var. occidenttalis<br />
from the straightside<br />
lip of var.<br />
macul<strong>at</strong>a.<br />
210
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Corallorhiza odontorhiza (Willdenow) Nuttall var. odontorhiza<br />
autumn coralroot<br />
forma flavida Wherry–yellow-flowered form<br />
Range: South Dakota east to Maine, south to Oklahoma and <strong>north</strong>ern<br />
Florida<br />
In the White Mountains region: very rare and known only from a<br />
single loc<strong>at</strong>ion in Carroll Co., NH<br />
Plant: terrestrial, mycotrophic, 5-10 cm tall; stems bronzy-green or, in<br />
the forma flavida, yellow<br />
Leaves: lacking<br />
Flowers: 5-12; cleistogamous; sepals green suffused with purple, covering<br />
the petals; lip, rarely evident in this variety, white spotted with purple or,<br />
in the forma flavida, unspotted; individual flower size 3-4 mm<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: rich, often calcareous, woodlands<br />
Flowering period: September-October<br />
<strong>The</strong> fact th<strong>at</strong> this inconspicuous little <strong>orchid</strong> is rarely found may be<br />
<strong>at</strong>tributed more to its size and habit than necessarily to its rarity. <strong>The</strong><br />
autumn coralroot appears to be never common anywhere and is usually<br />
found by accident. <strong>The</strong> short stems often flower among the fallen leaves in<br />
the autumn months and the color<strong>at</strong>ion, sans chlorophyll, makes them even<br />
harder to see. <strong>The</strong> single loc<strong>at</strong>ion in the White Mts. is most remarkable as it<br />
occurs in wh<strong>at</strong> appears to be an ordinary oak/maple woodland and is<br />
exceptionally large with over 300 plants in 2009. Plants with open flowers<br />
and expanded lips may<br />
be the var. pringlei.<br />
211
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Corallorhiza trifida Ch<strong>at</strong>elain<br />
early coralroot<br />
forma verna (Nuttall) P.M. Brown—yellow stemmed/white lipped form<br />
Range: Alaska east to Newfoundland, south to California, <strong>north</strong>ern<br />
New Mexico, and in sc<strong>at</strong>tered localities to West Virginia<br />
In the White Mountains region: occasional to local<br />
Plant: terrestrial, mycotrophic, 5-30 cm tall; stems yellow to yellowgreen<br />
in the south to bronze in the far <strong>north</strong><br />
Leaves: none<br />
Flowers: 8-15; tepals yellow-green to bronze, occasionally spotted with<br />
purple in plants of the far <strong>north</strong>, wide-spreading; lip white, often<br />
spotted with purple, especially in highly colored <strong>north</strong>ern individuals;<br />
mentum inconspicuous; individual flowers 0.5-1.0 cm<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: rich mesic and mixed forests<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e May to July<br />
Although smaller than many of the other coralroots in our area, the<br />
bright greenish-yellow stems of the early coralroot stand out among the<br />
forest companions. In the <strong>north</strong>ernmost areas plants grow out in the open<br />
barrens and tundra and tend to blend in a bit more. Color<strong>at</strong>ion can vary<br />
some in th<strong>at</strong> the plants of open exposed areas are often suffused with bronze<br />
and the floral parts with purple spots. <strong>The</strong> plants more common in the<br />
southern portion of the range with pure white<br />
lips were design<strong>at</strong>ed as variety verna by Nuttall<br />
nearly 200 years ago, but th<strong>at</strong> vari<strong>at</strong>ion is better<br />
tre<strong>at</strong>ed as a form.<br />
212<br />
Fording a<br />
wild stream or<br />
traversing a shaky<br />
suspension bridge to<br />
find these <strong>orchid</strong>s takes real<br />
dedic<strong>at</strong>ion of the <strong>orchid</strong> enthusiast.<br />
<strong>The</strong> reward is finding the plants or<br />
finding something<br />
unexpected<br />
on the journey<br />
like the Corallorhiza<br />
in a damp<br />
glen along the<br />
road.
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
CYPRIPEDIUM is a distinctive genus of about 45 species with 12 occurring in North America, <strong>north</strong> of<br />
Mexico. Although the leaf arrangement is variable, the lip, an unmistakable pouch-shaped slipper, is always<br />
diagnostic. This is often the genus th<strong>at</strong> is first recognized by <strong>orchid</strong> enthusiasts.<br />
Key to the lady‖s-slippers found within the White Mountains region<br />
1a leaves basal.....pink lady’s-slipper, Cypripedium acaule<br />
1b leaves cauline...2<br />
2a lip white, with veins in shades of purple.....ram’s-head lady’s-slipper, Cypripedium arietinum<br />
2b lip yellow...3<br />
3a flowers commonly large, lip to 5.4 cm long; sepals and petals unmarked to spotted, striped, or<br />
reticul<strong>at</strong>ely marked with reddish brown or madder; plants of a variety of habit<strong>at</strong>s, usually mesic to<br />
calcareous woodlands.....large yellow lady’s-slipper, Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens<br />
3b flowers small, lip 1.5–2.9 cm long, sepals and petals usually suffused with dark reddish brown or<br />
madder; scent intensely sweet; plants of calcareous fens and other mesic to limy wetlands.....<strong>north</strong>ern<br />
small yellow lady’s-slipper, Cypripedium parviflorum var. makasin<br />
213
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Cypripedium acaule Aiton<br />
pink lady’s-slipper, moccasin flower<br />
forma albiflorum Rand & Redfield–white-flowered form<br />
forma biflorum P.M. Brown–2-flowered form<br />
Range: Northwest Territories east to Newfoundland, south<br />
to Minnesota, Mississippi, and Georgia<br />
In the White Mountains region: frequent to<br />
occasional throughout, usually in open woodlands,<br />
rarely in sphagnum bogs and he<strong>at</strong>hs<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 10-55 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 2; oblong-obov<strong>at</strong>e, 5-13 cm wide × 10-30<br />
cm long or, in the forma lancifolium, 3-5 cm wide;<br />
pubescent<br />
Flowers: 1, rarely 2 in the forma biflorum; sepals<br />
green to reddish-brown, petals bronze; lip pale<br />
rosy-pink to deep raspberry or, in the forma<br />
albiflorum, white with pale green petals and<br />
sepals; individual flower size ca. 4 × 4 cm; lip 3-6<br />
cm long with a longitudinal fissure<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: mixed hardwood and coniferous forest;<br />
usually in highly acidic soils<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e May to early July<br />
214
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Cypripedium acaule, the pink lady’s-slipper or moccasin flower is perhaps one of the most<br />
familiar <strong>orchid</strong>s to be found in <strong>north</strong>eastern North America. Although color is variable and<br />
presents itself in just about every shade of pink, some actually tend towards peach. <strong>The</strong> forma<br />
albiflorum is more frequent <strong>north</strong>ward and in many places in the WMNF is the more<br />
frequently seen color form. It is the showiest roadside <strong>orchid</strong> in l<strong>at</strong>e Spring in the region.<br />
forma albiflorum/biflorum<br />
215<br />
forma biflorum<br />
forma albiflorum
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Cypripedium arietinum R. Brown<br />
ram’s-head lady’s-slipper<br />
Range: Manitoba and Minnesota east to Nova Scotia, south to<br />
Massachusetts<br />
In the White Mountains region: very rare and local<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 10-33 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 3-4; elliptic-lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, bluish-green; 1.5-3.0 cm<br />
wide × 5-10 cm long<br />
Flowers: 1, rarely 2 in the forma biflorum; dorsal sepal<br />
ov<strong>at</strong>e-lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, greenish with purple-brown veining,<br />
l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals separ<strong>at</strong>e, slender, slightly twisted, bronzygreen<br />
to purplish; petals similar to l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals; lip funnelshape,<br />
broadened above; white with pink-deep raspberry veining<br />
or, in the forma albiflorum, white with pale green petals and<br />
sepals; individual flower size ca. 1.5 × 2 cm; lip 1 cm long with an<br />
oval fissure densely pubescent on the margin<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: mixed hardwood and coniferous forest; usually in<br />
circumneutral to calcareous soils<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e May though June<br />
<strong>The</strong> ram’-head lady’s-slipper is the smallest flowered<br />
216<br />
and most inconspicuous of all of our species<br />
of Cypripedium. <strong>The</strong> flowers are about the<br />
size of the tip of your finger and are held<br />
aloft <strong>at</strong> the top of the stem. In <strong>north</strong>ern New<br />
England it is nowhere common southward is<br />
exceedingly rare. Plants are usually confined<br />
to calcareous woodlands. <strong>The</strong> shape of the lip<br />
is unique among our North American<br />
species. This species is of conserv<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
concern in every st<strong>at</strong>e and province in which<br />
it occurs. In the White Mts. region it is<br />
known from an historical site near Shelburne<br />
just <strong>north</strong> of Rt. 2 in Coös County, NH. and<br />
just south of the region is an extant site near<br />
Moultonboro This species should be eagerly<br />
sought within the WMNF and environs.
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Cypripedium parviflorum Salisbury var. makasin (Farwell) Sheviak<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern small yellow lady’s-slipper<br />
Range: British Columbia south to <strong>north</strong>ern California, east to<br />
Newfoundland, south to Illinois and Pennsylvania<br />
In the White Mountains region: very rare and known only<br />
from an historical site in Coös County, NH<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 15-35 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 3-5; altern<strong>at</strong>e, spreading; ov<strong>at</strong>e to ov<strong>at</strong>e-elliptic<br />
to lance-elliptic, 1.6-12.0 cm wide × 5.0-20 cm long; the<br />
outer surface of the lowermost she<strong>at</strong>hing bract sparsely<br />
pubescent to glabrous when young<br />
Flowers: 1-2(3); sepals and petals suffused with a dark<br />
reddish-brown or madder, often appearing as a<br />
uniform color; l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals united; petals undul<strong>at</strong>e<br />
and spiraled to 10 cm long; lip ovoid, slipper-shaped,<br />
usually a deep, rich yellow, with scarlet to purple<br />
markings within the lip; individual flower size ca.<br />
2.0 × 3.0 cm; lip 1.5-2.9 cm long, the opening<br />
ov<strong>at</strong>e-oblong <strong>at</strong> the base of the lip; intensely sweetly<br />
scented<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: mesic to calcareous, moist woodlands, streamsides,<br />
bogs, and fens<br />
Flowering period: June-July<br />
<strong>The</strong> small, richly colored and intensely fragrant flowers of the <strong>north</strong>ern small yellow lady’sslipper<br />
are, in most instances easily distinguished from those of the large yellow lady’sslipper.<br />
Where the confusion occurs is in finding plants of Cypripedium parviflorum var.<br />
pubescens th<strong>at</strong> have rich, dark petals. Usually these plants also have large lips. Habit<strong>at</strong> is often<br />
a help but it is important to check out all of the criteria. In the White Mts. region is known<br />
from an historical site near Shelburne just <strong>north</strong> of Rt. 2 in Coös County, NH.<br />
217
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Cypripedium parviflorum Salisbury var. pubescens (Willdenow)<br />
Knight<br />
large yellow lady’s-slipper<br />
Range: Alaska east to Newfoundland, south to Arizona and<br />
Georgia<br />
In the White Mountains region: very rare in mesic woodlands<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 15-60 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 3-5; altern<strong>at</strong>e, somewh<strong>at</strong> evenly spaced along the<br />
stem, spreading; ov<strong>at</strong>e to ov<strong>at</strong>e-elliptic to lance-elliptic,<br />
2.5-12.0 cm wide × 8-20 cm long; the outer surface<br />
of the lowermost she<strong>at</strong>hing bract densely<br />
pubescent with short, silvery hairs when young<br />
Flowers: 1-3(4); sepals and petals spotted,<br />
splotched, or marked with brown, chestnut, or<br />
reddish-brown spots, rarely appearing as a<br />
uniform color; l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals united; petals<br />
undul<strong>at</strong>e and spiraled to 10 cm long; lip slipper-shaped,<br />
from pale to a deep, rich yellow, less often with scarlet<br />
markings within the lip; individual flower size ca. 4.5 × 12.0 cm;<br />
lip 2.5-5.4 cm, the opening ov<strong>at</strong>e-oblong <strong>at</strong> the base of the lip; scent<br />
moder<strong>at</strong>e to faint reminiscent of old roses<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: a wide variety of mesic to calcareous, wet to dry woodlands, streamsides, bogs, and<br />
fens<br />
Flowering period: early June through July in the far<br />
<strong>north</strong><br />
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens is the classic<br />
yellow lady‖s-slipper so familiar to many wildflower<br />
lovers and gardeners. Although it has declined<br />
dram<strong>at</strong>ically in some areas in the past twenty-five<br />
years, it still can be found in rich forests and swamps<br />
throughout much of the mesic and calcareous<br />
woodlands of our region. <strong>The</strong> fact th<strong>at</strong> this is one of<br />
the few <strong>n<strong>at</strong>ive</strong> <strong>orchid</strong>s than can be cultiv<strong>at</strong>ed in the<br />
garden has led to its decline in the wild. It is not all<br />
th<strong>at</strong> unusual to often come upon sites where in past<br />
years there have been many plants, only to find many<br />
holes where they have been dug.<br />
218
alba<br />
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
EPIPACTIS is a cosmopolitan genus of about 25 species, only one of which, E. gigantea,<br />
is <strong>n<strong>at</strong>ive</strong> in North America, well west of the Southeast. Three Eurasian species<br />
can also be found in North America, including E. helleborine.<br />
Epipactis helleborine (Linnaeus) Cranz<br />
broad-leaved helleborine<br />
forma alba (Webster) Boivin–white-flowered form<br />
forma viridens A. Gray–green-flowered form<br />
Range: eastern North America; southeastern California; sc<strong>at</strong>tered in<br />
western North America; Europe<br />
In the White Mountains region: becoming locally common<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 10-80 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 3-7; altern<strong>at</strong>e, spreading; lance-elliptic, 2.5-4.0 cm wide × 10-18 cm<br />
long<br />
Flowers: 15-50; highly variable in color but normally yellowgreen<br />
usually suffused with rosy-pink, individual flowers 1-<br />
3 cm across<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: highly variable, from shaded calcareous woodlands<br />
to front lawns and garden beds and even the crack in a concrete<br />
sidewalk!; typically a lime-lover<br />
Flowering period: July to early September<br />
<strong>The</strong> widespread European Epipactis helleborine was first found in North America near<br />
Syracuse, New York in 1878. In the ensuing century-plus it has spread throughout the region<br />
and can now be found all the way eastward to downtown Boston, Massachusetts and<br />
<strong>north</strong>ward to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, and in recent years westward to California.<br />
Plants appear to pop up here and there, usually in the vicinity of calcareous soils or debris. It<br />
can be equally happy in woodland and exposed situ<strong>at</strong>ions. With the exception of forma<br />
viridens, the various forms are exceedingly rare and are represented by very few collections.<br />
Exploring in a similar habit<strong>at</strong>, but a new area, yielded a<br />
rich abundance of the Epipactis th<strong>at</strong> likes to grow in limy<br />
areas like the old kiln site across the trail where the<br />
original site was discovered.<br />
forma viridens<br />
219
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
GOODYERA is a large genus th<strong>at</strong> is widespread throughout the world; it is known for its beautifully marked and<br />
reticul<strong>at</strong>ed leaves and has often earned the name of "jewel <strong>orchid</strong>s" for the group. <strong>The</strong> degree of leaf markings<br />
varies gre<strong>at</strong>ly even within a species. In the United St<strong>at</strong>es and Canada we have 4 species.<br />
Key to the r<strong>at</strong>tlesnake orchises found within the White Mountains region<br />
1a flowers in a dense spike.....downy r<strong>at</strong>tlesnake orchis, Goodyera pubescens<br />
1b flowers in a lax spike...2<br />
2b l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals reflexed <strong>at</strong> tip; plants rare and local <strong>north</strong>ward.....lesser r<strong>at</strong>tlesnake orchis, Goodyera<br />
repens<br />
2b l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals not reflexed; plants widespread.....checkered r<strong>at</strong>tlesnake orchis, Goodyera tessel<strong>at</strong>a<br />
Goodyera pubescens - below: exceptionally marked leaves<br />
220<br />
right: plant<br />
showing<br />
possible<br />
hybridiz<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
with G.<br />
tessel<strong>at</strong>a
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Goodyera pubescens (Willdenow) R. Brown<br />
downy r<strong>at</strong>tlesnake orchis<br />
Range: Ontario east to Nova Scotia, south to Arkansas and Florida<br />
In the White Mountains region: <strong>at</strong> the <strong>north</strong>ern limit of its range<br />
but widespread and sc<strong>at</strong>tered in the southern portion of the region<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 20-50 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 4-8; in a basal rosette, bluish-green with white reticul<strong>at</strong>ions on<br />
the veins, broadly lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, 2-4 cm wide × 4-10 cm long; evergreen<br />
Flowers: 20-50+; in a densely flowered terminal spike; white,<br />
copiously pubescent; petals and sepals somewh<strong>at</strong> similar and the upper<br />
ones forming a hood over the spreading sepals and sacc<strong>at</strong>e lip;<br />
individual flower size ca. 3 × 4 mm<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: mixed and deciduous woodlands<br />
Flowering period: August<br />
Goodyera pubescens, the downy r<strong>at</strong>tlesnake orchis is a typically southern<br />
species is reaching the <strong>north</strong>ern limit of its range in the Northeast. It has<br />
the most handsomely marked foliage of any of our <strong>n<strong>at</strong>ive</strong> <strong>orchid</strong>s and<br />
also has the added fe<strong>at</strong>ure of being evergreen. Large p<strong>at</strong>ches are<br />
often formed and when in<br />
flower the snow-white blooms<br />
<strong>at</strong>op the slender spikes make it<br />
the showiest of all of the<br />
r<strong>at</strong>tlesnake orchises in North<br />
America. <strong>The</strong> entire inflorescence<br />
is copiously pubescent<br />
and the ne<strong>at</strong>, little rounded<br />
buds form a fanciful appearance to th<strong>at</strong> of the<br />
tail of a r<strong>at</strong>tlesnake!<br />
221
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Goodyera repens (Linnaeus) R. Brown<br />
lesser r<strong>at</strong>tlesnake orchis<br />
forma ophioides (Fernald) P.M. Brown–white veined leaf form<br />
Range: Alaska east to Newfoundland, south to Wyoming, south<br />
in the Rocky and Appalachian Mts.; <strong>north</strong>ern Eurasia<br />
In the White Mountains region: very rare and local<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 5-23 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 3-6; in a basal rosette, dark green or, in the forma<br />
ophioides, marked with silver veining, ov<strong>at</strong>e, 0.5-2.0 cm wide ×<br />
1.0-4.0 cm long<br />
Flowers: 10-20; in a loosely flowered, spiraled - often one-sided -<br />
terminal raceme; white, pubescent; dorsal sepal and petals<br />
forming a hood over the rounded lip, l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals often<br />
reflexed; individual flower size 2 × 3(4) mm<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: mixed and deciduous woodlands; sphagnum woodlands<br />
Flowering period: July-August<br />
Goodyera repens, the tiniest of the r<strong>at</strong>tlesnake orchises, is the<br />
only North American species to be found in Eurasia as well. <strong>The</strong><br />
small rosettes of the nomin<strong>at</strong>e variety are nearly plain with little<br />
or no contrasting veining. This is wh<strong>at</strong> is seen throughout most<br />
of the range in Europe and Asia and rarely seen in <strong>north</strong>ernmost<br />
North America. <strong>The</strong> forma ophioides, with the beautiful silver<br />
veining on the leaves, is the form most frequently seen through<br />
most of North America. Plants can be quite variable in the<br />
degree of veining. Fernald described this form as var. ophioides<br />
but as it passes into var. repens<br />
<strong>north</strong>ward (especially in Canada)<br />
it is best tre<strong>at</strong>ed as a form.<br />
left: typical leaves<br />
above: possible hybrid with G. tessel<strong>at</strong>a<br />
222
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Goodyera tessel<strong>at</strong>a Loddiges<br />
checkered r<strong>at</strong>tlesnake orchis<br />
Range: Manitoba east to Newfoundland, south to Minnesota and Maryland<br />
In the White Mountains region: local to occasional throughout<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 15-35 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 4-8; in a basal rosette, dull bluish-green, finely reticul<strong>at</strong>ed with slender white<br />
markings, elliptic-lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, 1.0-2.5 cm wide × 2.0-8.0 cm long<br />
Flowers: 10-40; in a loosely flowered spiral - usually one-side - terminal raceme; white,<br />
copiously pubescent; dorsal sepal and petals lanceol<strong>at</strong>e and forming a hood over the short,<br />
rounded lip; individual flower size 3 × 4 mm<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: mixed and deciduous woodlands<br />
Flowering period: July-August<br />
<strong>The</strong> checkered r<strong>at</strong>tlesnake orchis occupies an interesting position among the four species of<br />
Goodyera found in North America. Plants appearing to be hybrids between G. tessel<strong>at</strong>a and<br />
G. pubescens have a striking resemblance to G. oblongifolia and are responsible for several<br />
erroneous Eastern records of the l<strong>at</strong>ter species. Goodyera tessel<strong>at</strong>a does appear to readily<br />
backcross with G. repens resulting in plants th<strong>at</strong> often challenge (and frustr<strong>at</strong>e) the observer.<br />
223
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Gymnadeniopsis was formerly placed within the genera Habenaria and Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera, and the 3 species th<strong>at</strong><br />
Rydberg used to comprise the genus Gymnadeniopsis have been recently been revalid<strong>at</strong>ed (Brown, 2002). Stone<br />
(1910) in his exhaustive work on southern New Jersey uses the genus Gymnadeniopsis for these three species.<br />
Several differences are present th<strong>at</strong> render them distinctive. <strong>The</strong> presence of tubers on the roots and small<br />
tubercles on the column are two of the major difference th<strong>at</strong> separ<strong>at</strong>es them from the other genera. Only one<br />
species is present in New England<br />
224
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Gymnadeniopsis clavell<strong>at</strong>a (Michaux) Rydberg var. clavell<strong>at</strong>a<br />
little club-spur orchis<br />
forma slaughteri (P.M. Brown) P.M. Brown–white-flowered form<br />
forma wrightii (Olive) P.M. Brown–spurless form<br />
Range: Wisconsin east to Maine, south to Texas and Georgia<br />
In the White Mountains region: widespread and often frequent<br />
throughout<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 15-35 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 2; cauline, ov<strong>at</strong>e-lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, 1-2 cm wide × 5-15 cm long,<br />
passing upward into bracts<br />
Flowers: 5-15; arranged in a loose terminal raceme, flowers usually<br />
twisted to one side; sepals ov<strong>at</strong>e, petals linear, enclosed within the<br />
sepals and forming a hood; lip oblong, the apex obscurely 3-lobed;<br />
perianth yellow-green or, in the forma slaughteri, white; individual<br />
flower size 0.5 cm, not including the 1 cm spur, the small tip swollen<br />
(clav<strong>at</strong>e) or, in the forma wrightii, the spur absent<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: damp woods, streamsides, open, wet ditches<br />
Flowering period: June to August<br />
<strong>The</strong> small, pale greenish flowers of the little club-spur orchis are very<br />
different from any other <strong>orchid</strong> we have, and also they hold themselves <strong>at</strong><br />
curious angles on the stem. <strong>The</strong> distinctive spur, with its swollen tip, is wh<strong>at</strong><br />
gives this plant its common name. Plants of the nomin<strong>at</strong>e variety are found<br />
primarily in wooded swamps <strong>north</strong>ward from Florida <strong>north</strong> to the lower<br />
Gre<strong>at</strong> Lakes region and southern<br />
Maritimes, especially in southwestern<br />
Nova Scotia.<br />
225<br />
forma wrightii
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Gymnadeniopsis clavell<strong>at</strong>a (Michaux) Rydberg var. ophioglossoides (Fernald) Schrenk<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern club-spur orchis<br />
Range: Ontario east to Newfoundland, south to <strong>north</strong>ern New England<br />
In the White Mountains region: locally common in open, wet areas <strong>at</strong><br />
<strong>north</strong>ern and higher elev<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 5-15 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 1; cauline, ov<strong>at</strong>e, 1-2 cm wide × 3-5 cm long, an occasional slender<br />
bract also present on the stem.<br />
Flowers: 3-10; arranged in an short, dense, crowded terminal raceme;<br />
flowers usually twisted to one side; sepals ov<strong>at</strong>e, petals linear, enclosed<br />
within the sepals forming a hood; lip oblong, the apex obscurely 3-lobed;<br />
perianth yellow-green to frosty-white; individual flower size 0.5 cm, not<br />
including the 0.5 cm spur, the small tip swollen (clav<strong>at</strong>e)<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: exposed areas <strong>at</strong> <strong>north</strong>ern or higher elev<strong>at</strong>ions; gravelly barrens,<br />
tundra, stream and lakeshores<br />
Flowering period: July to August<br />
This very distinctive variety of the more common club-spur orchis is often found in<br />
very large colonies in wet gravels, roadside ditches and mountain seeps throughout the<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern portion of the Maritimes and Gre<strong>at</strong> lakes. <strong>The</strong> little plants, especially when in bud,<br />
resemble the adder‖s-tongue fern, Ophioglossum, in both the single leaf and short little crowed<br />
inflorescence. It is not unusual to find areas th<strong>at</strong> are nearly paved with these little gems.<br />
226
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
ISOTRIA consists of only two species, both of which are found in the eastern United St<strong>at</strong>es and adjacent Canada.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y are rel<strong>at</strong>ed to the genera Pogonia and, more distantly, Triphora, and early in its history was placed in the<br />
genus Pogonia.<br />
Isotria medeoloides (Pursh) Rafinesque<br />
small whorled pogonia<br />
FEDERALLY LISTED AS THREATENED<br />
Range: Michigan east to Maine, south to Missouri and South<br />
Carolina<br />
In the White Mountains region: very rare in Carroll County<br />
Plant: terrestrial, m<strong>at</strong>ure plants up to 15 cm tall, shorter (8-12 cm)<br />
in flower<br />
Leaves: 5 or 6; in a whorl <strong>at</strong> the top of the stem, up to 1 cm wide<br />
× 5 cm long<br />
Flowers: 1 or 2; sepals and petals greenish-yellow, wide<br />
spreading; lip white; individual flowers ca. 2-3 cm across<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: various wooded habit<strong>at</strong>s; favoring beech, mixed pines,<br />
etc.; often near seasonal runoffs<br />
Flowering period: April-May, usually before the trees leaf out<br />
<strong>The</strong> small whorled pogonia<br />
was one of the first <strong>orchid</strong>s to be<br />
listed by the federal government under<br />
the Endangered Species Act. Very rare, and<br />
known from only three st<strong>at</strong>ions <strong>at</strong> the extreme<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern limit of its range. This is an excellent<br />
example of a species originally<br />
thought to be one of the very<br />
rarest in North America, and,<br />
with the advent of more<br />
people, both professional and<br />
am<strong>at</strong>eur, searching and<br />
finding many new sites.<br />
227
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
LIPARIS is a cosmopolitan genus, of more than 200 species, th<strong>at</strong> occurs in the widest variety of habit<strong>at</strong>s<br />
throughout the world. All members of the genus are terrestrial or semi-epiphytic and have swollen bases to the<br />
leaves th<strong>at</strong> form pseudobulb-like structures. <strong>The</strong>se fe<strong>at</strong>ures are not unlike those of the genus Malaxis and are<br />
more evident and usually above ground, in the subtropical and tropical species, whereas in the temper<strong>at</strong>e and<br />
more <strong>north</strong>erly species the structure is within the ground.<br />
Liparis loeselii (Linnaeus) Richard<br />
Loesel’s twayblade, fen orchis<br />
Range: British Columbia east to Nova Scotia and southwestern<br />
Newfoundland, south to Arkansas and Mississippi and in the southern<br />
Appalachian Mts.; Europe<br />
In the White Mountains region: rare and local<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 4-20 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 2; basal, pale green, strongly keeled; oblanceol<strong>at</strong>e, 2-3 cm wide<br />
× 4-6 cm long<br />
Flowers: 5-15; in a terminal raceme; sepals, petals, slender and threadlike;<br />
lip broadly ov<strong>at</strong>e, w<strong>at</strong>ery-green; individual flower size 0.5-1.0 cm<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: damp gravels, bogs, ditches, seepages, shaded banks, and<br />
roadsides; often in calcareous soils<br />
Flowering period: early summer<br />
<strong>The</strong> fen orchis, Liparis loeselii, is one of the few species th<strong>at</strong> the<br />
eastern United St<strong>at</strong>es shares with <strong>north</strong>ern Europe. And as rare as it<br />
is in Europe, it can be common in portions of our region. Because of<br />
it‖s translucent coloring it is easily overlooked. Plants vary gre<strong>at</strong>ly in<br />
size and frequency. First found in the region (WMNF) in 2009.<br />
Note ground level pseudobulb<br />
Photo by Diane Allen<br />
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Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
LISTERA is comprised of 25 species th<strong>at</strong> occur in the cooler climes of both the Northern and Southern<br />
Hemispheres. Eight species in the genus grow in the United St<strong>at</strong>es and Canada, one of which, L. ov<strong>at</strong>a, is a very<br />
common species in Europe th<strong>at</strong> has become n<strong>at</strong>uralized in southern Ontario. Although plants of all species<br />
typically have two opposite leaves, many of these species also have vari<strong>at</strong>ions with three or more leaves. Recent<br />
molecular work indic<strong>at</strong>es th<strong>at</strong> species in Listera would be better placed within the genus Neottia.<br />
Key to the lesser twayblades, Listera, found within the White Mountains region<br />
1a lip deeply cleft to more than half its length lip about twice as long as petals.....heart-leaved twayblade,<br />
Listera cord<strong>at</strong>a<br />
1b lip shallowly cleft to less than half its length...2<br />
2a lip with parallel sides, auricled <strong>at</strong> base; lip entirely green with prominent auricles; plants of rocky river<br />
banks.....auricled twayblade, Listera auricul<strong>at</strong>a<br />
2b lip tapered from summit to base, not auricled <strong>at</strong> base; plants of cool, mossy woods and<br />
streamsides......broad-lipped twayblade, Listera convallarioides<br />
Listera auricul<strong>at</strong>a Wiegand<br />
auricled twayblade<br />
forma trifolia (Lepage) Lepage–3-leaved form<br />
Range: Ontario east to Newfoundland, south to Michigan and Maine<br />
In the White Mountains region: very rare; known from two sites in<br />
Coös County, NH<br />
Plant: terrestrial; 10 to 20 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 2; opposite, midway on the stem or, in the forma trifolia, 3<br />
in a whorl, green, ov<strong>at</strong>e-oblong 3.0 cm wide × 3.5 cm long<br />
Flowers: 5-15; in a terminal raceme; sepals, petals w<strong>at</strong>ery green,<br />
narrowly sp<strong>at</strong>ul<strong>at</strong>e, reflexed; lip oblong with distinctive auricles<br />
clasping the ovary <strong>at</strong> the base and narrowly notched <strong>at</strong> the apex,<br />
green; pedicles and ovary glabrous; individual flower size 0.6-1.0 cm<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: gravel bars, alder thickets, and rocky river shores<br />
Flowering period: July<br />
One of the rarest <strong>orchid</strong>s in <strong>north</strong>-eastern North America, the auricled twayblade‖s<br />
distribution is limited to the <strong>north</strong>ern Gre<strong>at</strong><br />
Lakes region, Canadian Maritimes and <strong>north</strong>ern<br />
New England. <strong>The</strong> diminutive plants prefer<br />
rocky gravels and riverbanks th<strong>at</strong> are heavily<br />
scarred by winter ice. Because the plants of<br />
Listera auricul<strong>at</strong>a are a consistent w<strong>at</strong>ery-green in<br />
color they are often overlooked, although with<br />
much larger leaves and individual flowers than L.<br />
cord<strong>at</strong>a. Hybrids with<br />
L. convallarioides are<br />
known as L. ×veltmanii.<br />
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Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Listera convallarioides (Swartz) Nuttall<br />
broad-lipped twayblade<br />
forma trifolia P.M. Brown–3-leaved form<br />
Range: southwestern Alaska; British Columbia east to<br />
Newfoundland, south to California and Wyoming, east to <strong>north</strong>ern<br />
Michigan and Maine<br />
In the White Mountains region: local in cool mountain wetlands<br />
Plant: terrestrial; 10 to 30 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 2; opposite, midway on the stem or, in the forma<br />
trifolia, 3 in a whorl, green, ov<strong>at</strong>e-oblong 1-3 cm wide × 2.0-6 cm<br />
long<br />
Flowers: 5-15; in a terminal raceme; sepals and petals w<strong>at</strong>erygreen,<br />
reflexed ; lip pale yellow-green, oblong, broadening to a<br />
shallowly notched <strong>at</strong> the apex; pedicles and ovary pubescent;<br />
individual flower size 0.6-1.5 cm<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: damp to wet cold, mossy woodlands, thickets, and<br />
river shores<br />
Flowering period: July<br />
<strong>The</strong> broad-lipped twayblade is the largest of the twayblades (Listera sp.) th<strong>at</strong> we have in<br />
<strong>north</strong>eastern North America. <strong>The</strong> plants are almost always colonial and may form large<br />
p<strong>at</strong>ches usually in open damp woods, mossy glades, and on isol<strong>at</strong>ed little islets in flowing<br />
streams. When Listera auricul<strong>at</strong>a is nearby the hybrid Listera ×veltmanii is almost always<br />
present. Listera convallarioides is often mistakenly called the broad-leaved twayblade when the<br />
correct common name is the broad-lipped twayblade referring to the decidedly broadened<br />
apex of the lip, unlike<br />
any other Listera in<br />
our region.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se <strong>orchid</strong>s required<br />
a rugged<br />
uphill climb over<br />
slipper rocks and<br />
boulders to reach<br />
their chosen niche on<br />
the steep sides of the<br />
mountain trail. <strong>The</strong><br />
site was wet with<br />
streamlets and the<br />
little <strong>orchid</strong>s hid<br />
easily amongst the<br />
grasses and w<strong>at</strong>er<br />
plants th<strong>at</strong> were<br />
abundant in the<br />
area.<br />
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Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Listera cord<strong>at</strong>a (Linnaeus) R. Brown var. cord<strong>at</strong>a<br />
heart-leaved twayblade<br />
forma viridens P.M. Brown–green-flowered form<br />
Range: Alaska east to Newfoundland and Greenland,<br />
south to California, and the Rocky Mts. in New Mexico;<br />
south to North Carolina in Appalachian Mts.; Eurasia<br />
In the White Mountains region: local and sc<strong>at</strong>tered<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 10-40 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 2 or, in the forma trifolia, 3 in a whorl or, in the<br />
forma tetraphylla, 4 in a whorl; opposite, mid-way on the<br />
stem, or, in the forma disjuncta, with an additional leaf<br />
above; green, or forma varieg<strong>at</strong>a, with white varieg<strong>at</strong>ions;<br />
ov<strong>at</strong>e 2.0 cm wide × 3.5 cm long with a somewh<strong>at</strong> cord<strong>at</strong>e<br />
base<br />
Flowers: 5-40; in a terminal raceme; sepals purple, ov<strong>at</strong>e,<br />
reflexed; petals purple, narrowly sp<strong>at</strong>ul<strong>at</strong>e, strongly<br />
recurved; lip purple, linear, split beyond the middle into 2<br />
slender filaments or, in the forma viridens, flowers entirely<br />
green; individual flower size 6-10 mm<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: damp, often dark, coniferous woodlands, trailsides, he<strong>at</strong>hs, and sphagnum bogs<br />
Flowering period: June to August<br />
<strong>The</strong> heart-leaved twayblade is the most frequently encountered twayblade throughout the<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern portion of our region. It often grows in gre<strong>at</strong> numbers and the variability in both<br />
leaf placement and flower color is usually evident. Although individual plants may be easy to<br />
overlook, these large colonies, when struck by the sun, seem to dance in the woodland floor.<br />
<strong>The</strong> individual flowers, like all of those in the genus Listera, are all lip with the petals and<br />
sepals pulled back around the ovary, well out of the way.<br />
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Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
MALAXIS is a cosmopolitan one of about 300 species. Eleven species are found in the United St<strong>at</strong>es and Canada,<br />
4 of which occur in our region. All species have a pseudobulbous stem, which is more evident in the subtropical<br />
and tropical species. In the temper<strong>at</strong>e species it appears more corm-like. <strong>The</strong> genus possesses some of the smallest<br />
flowers in the Orchidaceae, many not over a few millimeters in any dimension.<br />
Malaxis unifolia Michaux<br />
green adder’s-mouth<br />
forma bifolia (Mousley) Fernald–2-leaved form<br />
forma varieg<strong>at</strong>a Mousley–varieg<strong>at</strong>ed-leaf form<br />
Range: Manitoba east to Newfoundland south to Texas and Florida; Mexico<br />
In the White Mountains region: very local to occasional but often<br />
overlooked<br />
Plant: terrestrial; 8-25+ cm tall, stem swollen <strong>at</strong> the base into a<br />
(pseudo)bulb<br />
Leaves: 1 or, in the forma bifolia, 2; ov<strong>at</strong>e, keeled, to 6 cm wide × 9<br />
cm long, midway on the stem; green or, in the forma varieg<strong>at</strong>a, with<br />
white markings<br />
Flowers: 5-80+; arranged in a compact raceme, elong<strong>at</strong>ing as flowering<br />
progresses; sepals oblanceol<strong>at</strong>e, green; petals linear and positioned behind<br />
the flower; lip green, broadly ov<strong>at</strong>e to cord<strong>at</strong>e, with extended auricles <strong>at</strong> the<br />
base and bident<strong>at</strong>e <strong>at</strong> the summit; individual flower size 2-4 mm<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: damp woodlands, moist open barrens, mossy glades, fens, and sphagnum<br />
bogs<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e June to August<br />
Often considered one of the most widespread and common <strong>orchid</strong>s in eastern North America,<br />
Malaxis unifolia can be a real challenge to find. Plants vary gre<strong>at</strong>ly in size and the n<strong>at</strong>ural<br />
camouflage blends them in with many of the<br />
other surrounding veget<strong>at</strong>ion. Only when<br />
growing in open mossy barrens do they<br />
really stand out. Large plants are not<br />
uncommon and they, like most members of<br />
the genus, bear up to 100 flowers and present<br />
them over a long period of time–up to two<br />
months.<br />
232<br />
forma varieg<strong>at</strong>a
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
<strong>The</strong> genus PLATANTHERA is comprised of about 40 North American and Eurasian species, primarily of<br />
temper<strong>at</strong>e climes and is one of the major segreg<strong>at</strong>e genera traditionally placed by many botanists within<br />
Habenaria. It is the largest genus of <strong>orchid</strong>s in the United St<strong>at</strong>es and Canada. It is also the largest genus in the<br />
region. Many of the species have large, colorful, showy flowers in tall spikes or racemes. <strong>The</strong>re are several<br />
sections to the genus, but the showiest is the section Blephariglottis, the fringed orchises. <strong>The</strong>re are two groups<br />
within this section: those species with an entire or unlobed lip and those with a 3-parted lip. At various times in<br />
taxonomic history members of Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera have been included in Habenaria and Piperia.<br />
Note: nearly all species of Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera can be found in both full sun and deeply shaded habit<strong>at</strong>s. Plants in the sun<br />
tend to be shorter, have more densely-flowered inflorescences, and with the leaves more upright, whereas those<br />
growing in shaded areas tend to be taller, have elong<strong>at</strong>ed, loosely-flowered inflorescences with spreading leaves.<br />
<strong>The</strong> individual flower size remains the same, but the overall appearance of the plants can be markedly different;<br />
to the point th<strong>at</strong> some observers initially think they have two different species!<br />
Key to the fringed, bog, and rein orchises, Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera, found within the White Mountain Mountains region<br />
1a margins of lips entire...2<br />
1b margins of lips fringed, lacer<strong>at</strong>ed, or erose...8<br />
2a leaves cauline (along the stem)...3<br />
2b leaves basal (<strong>at</strong> or close to the ground)...5<br />
3a flowers white.....white bog orchis; bog candles, Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera dil<strong>at</strong><strong>at</strong>a<br />
3b flowers green...4<br />
4a lip yellowish to yellowish green, rhombic-lanceol<strong>at</strong>e.....<strong>north</strong>ern green bog orchis, Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera<br />
aquilonis<br />
4b lip whitish green, lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, usually obscurely rounded or slightly dil<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>at</strong> base.....green bog orchis,<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera huronensis<br />
Note: P. aquilonis and P. huronensis are an endless source of confusion for many <strong>orchid</strong> enthusiasts.<br />
Until both are clearly seen in the field it can be difficult. Carefully examine each potential plant,<br />
meticulously comparing the criteria.<br />
5a leaf 1; <strong>at</strong> base of stem.....blunt-leafed rein orchis, Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera obtus<strong>at</strong>a<br />
5b leaves 2; ov<strong>at</strong>e and pad-like lying close to the ground...6<br />
6a dorsal sepal and lip arching forward appearing like ice tongs.....Hooker’s orchis, Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera hookeri<br />
6b lips descending...7<br />
7a spur less than 28 mm long.....pad-leaved orchis, Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera orbicul<strong>at</strong>a<br />
7b spur gre<strong>at</strong>er than 28 mm long.....Goldie’s pad-leaved orchis, Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera macrophylla<br />
Note: see drawings <strong>at</strong> species account for shape and position of petals<br />
8a lip deeply lacer<strong>at</strong>e; flowers greenish white to creamy green.....green fringed orchis, Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera lacera<br />
8b flowers purple...9<br />
9a lip margin fringed more than 1/3 the length; spur orifice circular.....large purple fringed orchis,<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera grandiflora<br />
9b lip margin distinctly fringed but to less than 1/3 the length, spur orifice a transverse dumbbell.....small<br />
purple fringed orchis, Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera psycodes<br />
See notes on the lacera/psycodes/grandiflora complex.<br />
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Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera aquilonis Sheviak<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern green bog orchis<br />
forma alba (Light) P.M. Brown – albino form<br />
Range: Alaska east to Newfoundland, south to California,<br />
New Mexico, and Iowa, east to Massachusetts<br />
In the White Mountains region: rare to local; more<br />
frequent <strong>north</strong>ward<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 5 to 60 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 2-4; cauline, linear-lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, gradually reduced to<br />
bracts; 1-4 cm wide × 3-20 cm long<br />
Flowers: 20-45; arranged in a loose to dense terminal spike;<br />
dorsal sepal obov<strong>at</strong>e, aching; l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals linear-oblong,<br />
spreading to recurved, petals rhombic-linear, somewh<strong>at</strong><br />
enclosed within the dorsal sepal forming a hood; lip rhombiclanceol<strong>at</strong>e<br />
to lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, descending, projecting or the apex<br />
caught within the tip of the dorsal sepal and petals; flowers<br />
yellow-green to whitish-green in cooler climes; lip usually a<br />
dull yellow-green; individual flower size 0.8 x 1.3 cm, not<br />
including the 0.2-0.5 cm clav<strong>at</strong>e to somewh<strong>at</strong> cylindric spur.<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: open wet meadows, roadside ditches and seeps, fens,<br />
bogs and river gravels, occasionally in woodlands<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e June to August<br />
Plants formerly identified as Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera hyperborea in much of<br />
North America have been described as a new species, P.<br />
aquilonis Sheviak in 1999. True P. hyperborea is known in<br />
North America only from Greenland, and all plants<br />
previously correctly assigned to th<strong>at</strong> species are P. aquilonis.<br />
We only have 2 green-flowered species, P. aquilonis and P.<br />
huronensis, and the white-flowered P. dil<strong>at</strong><strong>at</strong>a. For many years<br />
both green-flowered species were simply referred to as P. hyperborea and usually in two<br />
varieties–var. hyperborea and var. huronensis. Unfortun<strong>at</strong>ely too many people, and authors<br />
alike, placed the smaller, slender, ―poorly flowered‖ plants into P. hyperborea and the robust,<br />
lush-flowered plants into P. huronensis. This being incorrect only compounded the problem.<br />
Sheviak‖s description of P. aquilonis gre<strong>at</strong>ly helped in solving this problem and recent work<br />
by Wallace (2002, 2003, 2004) valid<strong>at</strong>es both the origins and identific<strong>at</strong>ions of the three<br />
species. In a more simplistic form P. aquilonis may be differenti<strong>at</strong>ed from P. huronensis by the<br />
color and shape of the lip, position of the pollinia, and overall aspect of the plant. Range and<br />
habit<strong>at</strong> are also helpful but should not be relied upon too heavily. Plants of open sunny<br />
habit<strong>at</strong>s differ markedly in habit from those of woodland habit<strong>at</strong>s.<br />
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Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
open sun habit woodland shade habit<br />
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Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera dil<strong>at</strong><strong>at</strong>a (Pursh) Lindley<br />
tall white <strong>north</strong>ern bog orchis<br />
Range: Alaska east to Newfoundland, south to California and New Mexico;<br />
Minnesota south to Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New England<br />
In the White Mountains region: widespread throughout the region with few<br />
large colonies<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 25 to over 100 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 4-12; cauline, passing into bracts on the stem, lanceol<strong>at</strong>e 4-7 cm wide<br />
× 15-30 cm long<br />
Flowers: 20-100+; arranged in a dense terminal spike; dorsal sepal ov<strong>at</strong>e,<br />
l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals linear; petals linear-falc<strong>at</strong>e, enclosed within the sepals forming a<br />
hood; lip linear-lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, dil<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>at</strong> the base; perianth pure white; individual<br />
flower size 1.75-2.0 cm, not including the cylindric spur which is about equal<br />
to the length of the lip<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: open wet meadows, roadside ditches and seeps, fens, and bogs<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e June to August<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera dil<strong>at</strong><strong>at</strong>a is the showiest of the slender bog or rein <strong>orchid</strong>s. Its tall<br />
white, fragrant spikes may occur in gre<strong>at</strong> numbers throughout the range of<br />
the species. Size is variable and smaller plants often only have a few flowers.<br />
Mixed colonies of P. dil<strong>at</strong><strong>at</strong>a, P. huronensis and/or P. aquilonis are not<br />
uncommon. Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera dil<strong>at</strong><strong>at</strong>a is by far the more frequently seen of the<br />
three. Hybridiz<strong>at</strong>ion among these species is minimal today because of the<br />
evolution of self-pollin<strong>at</strong>ing breeding systems in the green-flowered species.<br />
Plants known as P. ×media where once thought to represent frequent<br />
hybrids between P. dil<strong>at</strong><strong>at</strong>a and P. (hyperborea) aquilonis, and although th<strong>at</strong><br />
is technically correct, they actually represent plants of P. huronensis.<br />
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Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera grandiflora (Bigelow) Lindley<br />
large purple fringed orchis<br />
forma albiflora (Rand & Redfield) C<strong>at</strong>ling–white-flowered form<br />
Range: Ontario east to Newfoundland, south to West Virginia and New<br />
Jersey; south in the Appalachian Mountains to Georgia<br />
In the White Mountains region: locally common<br />
Plant: terrestrial, to 250-100+ cm tall<br />
Leaves: 2-6; cauline, lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, keeled 1.5-7.0 cm wide<br />
× 8-24 cm long<br />
Flowers: 30-65; arranged in a loose-to-dense terminal<br />
raceme usually 3-5 cm in diameter with all flowers<br />
open simultaneously; sepals ov<strong>at</strong>e, petals sp<strong>at</strong>ul<strong>at</strong>e with<br />
dent<strong>at</strong>e margins; lip three-parted with a coarsely<br />
fringed margin usually to more than 1/3 the depth of<br />
the lip, or in the forma mentotonsa the margin essentially entire;<br />
perianth various shades of purple from pale lavender to deep, rich<br />
magenta or, in the forma albiflora, white; or in the forma bicolor,<br />
purple and white; or, in the forma carnea, a delic<strong>at</strong>e fresh pink;<br />
individual flower size 3 cm, not including the 2.5 cm spur; spur<br />
orifice rounded<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: open wet meadows, roadside ditches and seeps, mountain<br />
meadows<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e June-early August<br />
<strong>The</strong> large purple fringed orchis is widespread throughout much of<br />
central and <strong>north</strong>eastern North America. This tall (to 1 meter), st<strong>at</strong>ely species is often a<br />
fe<strong>at</strong>ure of the summer open woodlands and, <strong>north</strong>ward, damp meadows and roadsides. It<br />
usually occurs in small numbers, often only a single plant, but every once in a while large<br />
stands of over 100 plants can be found. Although similar in overall appearance to the small<br />
purple fringed orchis, P. psycodes, several points will aid in identific<strong>at</strong>ion. Be sure to carefully<br />
note the shape of the orifice, depth of the fringing, and overall shape of the inflorescence.<br />
Hybrids with P. lacera are known as P. ×keenanii and with P. psycodes as P. ×enigma.<br />
White forms are not easy to come<br />
by but on Bog Dam Road there<br />
were two examples of white forms<br />
of the large purple fringed<br />
<strong>orchid</strong>s. It took a second visit to<br />
see them <strong>at</strong> prime as they were<br />
only budded when first<br />
encountered.<br />
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239<br />
forma albiflora
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera hookeri (Torrey) Lindley<br />
Hooker’s orchis<br />
Range: Minnesota east to Newfoundland, south to Iowa and<br />
New Jersey<br />
In the White Mountains region: rare and local<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 10-50 cm tall, the inflorescence occupying<br />
nearly half the height; bracts absent from stem<br />
Leaves: 2; basal, oblong-ov<strong>at</strong>e up to 12 cm wide × 15 cm long<br />
or, in the forma oblongifolia, 5 cm wide x 12 cm long; light green<br />
above and pale bene<strong>at</strong>h<br />
Flowers: 5-25; arranged in a loose terminal raceme; dorsal sepal<br />
concave, ov<strong>at</strong>e and tapering to a point; l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals lanceol<strong>at</strong>e<br />
and strongly reflexed; petals linear-lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, tapering,<br />
falc<strong>at</strong>e, projecting forward; lip long-triangular curving<br />
upward <strong>at</strong> the tip; the overall appearance th<strong>at</strong> of ice<br />
tongs; perianth lime-green; flower size ca. 2 x 3 cm<br />
not including the slender 1.5-2.5 cm spur; plants of<br />
the forma abbrevi<strong>at</strong>a smaller and more crowded in all<br />
aspects with the color nearly yellow-bronze<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: rich deciduous and mixed woodlands<br />
Flowering period: July<br />
No <strong>n<strong>at</strong>ive</strong> <strong>orchid</strong> is so curious in its appearance as the flowers of those of Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera hookeri.<br />
Striking some as looking like gargoyles or ice tongs, the lower lip<br />
curls upward and the dorsal sepal<br />
projects forward while the petals<br />
spread wing-like to give this<br />
appearance. Plants found in<br />
woodlands often occur in colonies<br />
and although the plants are<br />
monochrom<strong>at</strong>ic–a decided shade<br />
of chartreuse–they usual grow<br />
where there is little competing<br />
ground cover. Hooker’s orchis is<br />
one of three species of Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera<br />
th<strong>at</strong> produces a pair of oval to<br />
round, basal leaves. <strong>The</strong> other<br />
two, P. orbicul<strong>at</strong>a and P.<br />
macrophylla, are both larger in<br />
overall dimensions, have much<br />
rounder leaves, and flower l<strong>at</strong>er<br />
than P. hookeri.<br />
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Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera huronensis (Nuttall) Lindley<br />
green bog orchis<br />
Range: Alaska east to Newfoundland, south to California and<br />
Pennsylvania<br />
In the White Mountains region: sc<strong>at</strong>tered to occasional throughout;<br />
more frequent <strong>north</strong>ward<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 10-100+ cm tall<br />
Leaves: 2-4; cauline, linear-lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, gradually reduced to bracts; 1-6<br />
cm wide × 5-30 cm long<br />
Flowers: (8)20-75+; arranged in a loose to dense terminal spike;<br />
dorsal sepal obov<strong>at</strong>e, arching; l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals linear-oblong, spreading to<br />
recurved, petals ov<strong>at</strong>e to lance-falc<strong>at</strong>e, somewh<strong>at</strong> enclosed within the<br />
dorsal sepal forming a hood; lip lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, descending, or the apex<br />
caught within the tip of the dorsal sepal and petals; sepals whitishgreen,<br />
petals and lip pale greenish-white but markedly whiter than<br />
the sepals; individual flower size 0.8 x 1.3 cm, not including the<br />
0.4-1.2 cm somewh<strong>at</strong> cylindric spur; flowers are<br />
autogamous, with the downward-pointing pollinia<br />
remaining in the anther sacs.<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: open wet meadows, roadside ditches and seeps,<br />
fens, bogs, and river gravels<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e June to August<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera huronensis is the most widespread and frequently<br />
encountered of all of the green-flowered rein orchises in <strong>north</strong>eastern North America. <strong>The</strong><br />
tall spikes are frequently found in a wide variety of habit<strong>at</strong>s and like many species of<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera, their habit varies with the habit<strong>at</strong>. Plants of open wet areas have densely flowered<br />
tall spikes with<br />
many flowers<br />
whereas those of<br />
woodlands often<br />
have few-flowered,<br />
slender spikes. <strong>The</strong><br />
flowers are usually<br />
intensely fragrant.<br />
Sheviak (2002)<br />
st<strong>at</strong>es th<strong>at</strong> although<br />
hybrids with P.<br />
dil<strong>at</strong><strong>at</strong>a may occur<br />
the name traditionally<br />
used for them,<br />
P. ×media, is<br />
actually a synonym<br />
for P. huronensis.<br />
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Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera lacera (Michaux) G. Don<br />
green fringed orchis, ragged orchis<br />
Range: Manitoba east to Newfoundland, south to Texas and Georgia<br />
In the White Mountains region: sc<strong>at</strong>tered to occasional on roadsides<br />
and old fields<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 20-80 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 3-6; cauline, lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, keeled, 2.5-5.0 cm wide × 8-24 cm<br />
long, passing into bracts<br />
Flowers: 12-40+, highly variable; arranged in a loose-to-dense<br />
terminal raceme; sepals obov<strong>at</strong>e, the petals oblong, upright,<br />
usually with entire margins; lip three-parted and deeply lacer<strong>at</strong>e;<br />
perianth various of green to nearly yellow or white; individual<br />
flower size ca. 1.5-3.0 cm, not including the 1.6-2.3 cm spur, the<br />
orifice nearly square<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: open wet meadows, roadside ditches and seeps,<br />
mountain meadows<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e June-early August<br />
<strong>The</strong> least conspicuous of the fringed orchises, Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera lacera is<br />
sc<strong>at</strong>tered throughout the region. It can be found throughout the<br />
summer in damp meadows, open wet woods, and roadside ditches.<br />
Flower color is highly variable in many shades of green and some<br />
plants are nearly white. In many places P. lacera is found growing<br />
with either or both P. grandiflora and P. psycodes. Those plants<br />
whose flowers show a wash of lavender may represent hybrids with<br />
either P. psycodes (P. ×andrewsii) or P. grandiflora (P. ×keenanii).<br />
<strong>The</strong> hillsides along highways can be frustr<strong>at</strong>ing when you are<br />
trying to sight <strong>orchid</strong>s especially if the road is busy. C<strong>at</strong>ching a glimpse of a<br />
possible <strong>orchid</strong> requires adroit maneuvering to pull over and park to explore. <strong>The</strong> first<br />
sighting of ragged fringed occurred this way. <strong>The</strong> yield however was mind boggling once<br />
the area was explored.<br />
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Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera macrophylla (Goldie) P.M. Brown<br />
Goldie’s pad-leaved orchis<br />
Range: Ontario east to Newfoundland, south to Michigan and<br />
Pennsylvania<br />
In the White Mountains region: rare to local<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 25-85 cm tall, the inflorescence occupying the<br />
upper third of the height; slender bracts present on the stem<br />
Leaves: 2; basal, lying on the ground, ov<strong>at</strong>e up to 7-18 cm wide ×<br />
8-24 cm long; dark green above and pale bene<strong>at</strong>h<br />
Flowers: 9-23; arranged in a loose terminal raceme; dorsal sepal<br />
broadly ov<strong>at</strong>e taping to a point and concave; l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals<br />
ov<strong>at</strong>e-falc<strong>at</strong>e and strongly reflexed; petals linearlanceol<strong>at</strong>e,<br />
tapering, falc<strong>at</strong>e, erect and arching<br />
outward; lip linear-oblong, 1.0-2.3 cm long,<br />
descending or rarely recurved; sepals greenish-white;<br />
petals and lip whiter; flower size ca. 3 x 5 cm not<br />
including the slenderly clav<strong>at</strong>e 2.8-4.6 cm spur<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: rich deciduous and mixed woodlands<br />
Flowering period: July to mid August<br />
For many years Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera macrophylla was considered a variety of P. orbicul<strong>at</strong>a, although it<br />
was originally described as a full species. This giant of the <strong>north</strong>eastern woodlands is one of<br />
the most spectacular of all our <strong>n<strong>at</strong>ive</strong> <strong>orchid</strong>s. From the near dinner-pl<strong>at</strong>e size leaves to the<br />
elephantine flowers it cannot help but take ones bre<strong>at</strong>h away. Popul<strong>at</strong>ions can vary from<br />
single individuals to several hundred plants. As in<br />
several other species of Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera with the<br />
common names large, small, big, etc. the overall<br />
size of the plant is not wh<strong>at</strong> m<strong>at</strong>ters. In this case,<br />
although plants of P. macrophylla are usually larger<br />
than those of P. orbicul<strong>at</strong>a, it is the length of the<br />
spur th<strong>at</strong> is the critical measurement. Also the<br />
position and shape of<br />
the petals is diagnostic.<br />
In one of the very best<br />
papers written on<br />
species pairs, Reddoch<br />
& Reddoch (1993)<br />
clearly explain the<br />
differences and similarities.<br />
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Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera obtus<strong>at</strong>a (Banks ex Pursh) Lindley<br />
blunt-leaved rein orchis<br />
Range: Alaska east to Newfoundland, south to Colorado, upper<br />
Gre<strong>at</strong> Lakes region and east to western Massachusetts<br />
In the White Mountains region: very rare despite many historical<br />
references<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 15-37 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 1; basal or, in the forma foliosa, multiple decreasing in size<br />
upward; linear oblanceol<strong>at</strong>e and up to 0.9-5.5 cm wide × 4-15 cm<br />
long, blunt <strong>at</strong> the apex and tapering to the base; green<br />
Flowers: 9-15; arranged in a loose terminal raceme or, in the forma<br />
collectanea, fewer flowered in a short, dense raceme; dorsal sepal<br />
broadly ov<strong>at</strong>e taping to a blunt apex; l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals ov<strong>at</strong>e-falc<strong>at</strong>e and<br />
strongly reflexed; petals linear-lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, with a dil<strong>at</strong>ed base, erect<br />
and arching outward in a horn-like manner; lip linear, broadened <strong>at</strong><br />
the base, 3-6 mm long, descending; perianth green to greenishwhite;<br />
flower size ca. 1 x 1 cm not including the 0.3-1.0 cm long<br />
acumin<strong>at</strong>e spur<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: mixed woodlands, usually in conifers, or in the forma<br />
collectanea, open headlands, river gravels, tundra, and he<strong>at</strong>hs<br />
Flowering period: July-August<br />
This highly variable circumpolar species is rare in the southern<br />
limit of its range. <strong>The</strong> moss and lichen-covered coniferous<br />
246<br />
woodlands th<strong>at</strong> also support heartleaved<br />
twayblades, Listera cord<strong>at</strong>a,<br />
lesser r<strong>at</strong>tlesnake orchis, Goodyera<br />
repens, and a variety of other<br />
<strong>orchid</strong>s usually are home to the<br />
blunt-leafed orchis.<br />
Photo by Diane Allen
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera orbicul<strong>at</strong>a (Pursh) Lindley<br />
pad-leaved orchis<br />
Range: southeastern Alaska, British Columbia east to Newfoundland,<br />
south to Washington and Maryland, south in the Appalachian Mts. to<br />
North Carolina<br />
In the White Mountains region: rare to local, but often occurring large<br />
colonies<br />
Plants: 12-75 cm tall; stem bracts present<br />
Leaves: 2, basal, lying on the ground, or, in the forma trifolia, 3, the third<br />
leaf on the stem; ov<strong>at</strong>e up to (4)10-20 cm wide × (5)12-22 cm long or, in the<br />
forma longifolia, oblong to nearly linear; dark green above and pale bene<strong>at</strong>h<br />
Flowers: 8-14, or in the forma pauciflora, 3-5 on shorter plants; arranged in<br />
a loose terminal raceme; dorsal sepal broadly ov<strong>at</strong>e tapering to a point and<br />
concave; l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals ov<strong>at</strong>e-falc<strong>at</strong>e and strongly reflexed; petals linearlanceol<strong>at</strong>e,<br />
tapering, falc<strong>at</strong>e, erect; lip linear-oblong, descending or rarely<br />
recurved; sepals greenish-white; petals and lip whiter; flower size ca. 3 x 5<br />
cm not including the slender 1.4-1.7 cm spur<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: mixed woodlands<br />
Flowering period: July to early August<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera orbicul<strong>at</strong>a and P. macrophylla presented, until<br />
recently, one of the most misunderstood species pairs in North<br />
American <strong>orchid</strong>s. <strong>The</strong> work of Allan and Joyce Reddoch (1993) clearly revalid<strong>at</strong>ed P.<br />
macrophylla as a full species and helped to deline<strong>at</strong>e the bounds of P. orbicul<strong>at</strong>a. As mentioned<br />
previously size does not m<strong>at</strong>ter except in the length of the spur. Spurs of P. orbicul<strong>at</strong>a are 1.4-<br />
2.7 cm long, the lesser measurement usually found in plants of forma lehorsii and forma<br />
pauciflora. Mixed colonies of the two species are not uncommon. <strong>The</strong> large, round leaves are<br />
always distinctive, but in areas<br />
where the two species overlap<br />
plants without flowers (or, in<br />
some situ<strong>at</strong>ions, with withered<br />
flowers and fruit) present,<br />
identific<strong>at</strong>ion cannot be certain.<br />
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Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera psycodes (Linnaeus) Lindley<br />
small purple fringed orchis<br />
forma albiflora (R. Hoffman) Whiting & C<strong>at</strong>ling–white-flowered form<br />
forma rosea P.M. Brown–pink-flowered form<br />
Range: Ontario east to Newfoundland, south to West Virginia and New<br />
Jersey; south in the Appalachian Mountains to Georgia<br />
In the White Mountains region: locally sc<strong>at</strong>tered<br />
Plant: terrestrial, to 90 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 2-6; cauline, lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, keeled 1.5-7.0 cm wide × 8-24 cm long<br />
Flowers: 30-125; arranged in a loose-to-dense terminal raceme usually<br />
2.5-3 cm in diameter with flowers open successively, i.e. the lower<br />
ones usually withering before the upper ones have opened, giving<br />
the inflorescence a conical appearance or, in the forma fernaldii, the<br />
raceme more compact and few- flowered; sepals elliptic, petals<br />
obov<strong>at</strong>e with finely dent<strong>at</strong>e margins; lip three-parted with a finely<br />
fringed margin usually to less than 1/3 the depth of the lip, or in the<br />
forma varians the margin essentially entire; perianth various shades of<br />
purple from pale lavender to deep, rich rosy-magenta; or, in the forma<br />
albiflora, white; or, in the forma rosea, a pale pink; individual flower size 0.5-<br />
1.5 cm, not including the 1.2-1.8 cm spur, or in the forma ecalcar<strong>at</strong>a, the spur<br />
lacking; spur orifice likened to a transverse dumbbell<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: open wet meadows, roadside ditches and seeps, mountain meadows or<br />
river gravels<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e June- August<br />
<strong>The</strong> common names large and small purple fringed<br />
orchis are very misleading as the small purple<br />
fringed orchis can often be ―larger‖ than the large. It<br />
is usually both taller and more floriferous than P.<br />
grandiflora, although the individual flowers are<br />
smaller. <strong>The</strong> small purple fringed orchis is also<br />
widespread throughout much of central and<br />
<strong>north</strong>eastern North America. This often-tall, slender<br />
species is <strong>at</strong> home in open meadows as well as<br />
wooded streamsides. It frequently occurs in small<br />
numbers, but is rarely found as a single plant. For<br />
comparisons to the large purple fringed orchis, P.<br />
grandiflora see details <strong>at</strong> th<strong>at</strong> entry. Hybrids with P.<br />
lacera are known as P. ×andrewsii and with P.<br />
grandiflora as P. ×enigma.<br />
A trail th<strong>at</strong> offered access to a rushing c<strong>at</strong>aract<br />
yield purple fringes and Epipactis as well as earlier<br />
blooming lady's-slippers. Hidden depressions caused<br />
a stumble and could have been very bad if the<br />
hiker was alone and could have broken something.<br />
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Riding along the highway near the Mt.<br />
Washington Hotel having the advantage of<br />
the passenger se<strong>at</strong> and a better view of the<br />
steep hillsides one could easily see the purple<br />
fringes th<strong>at</strong> were not visible from the driver's<br />
se<strong>at</strong>. Stopping the car and getting out to<br />
inspect the area yielded more purples and<br />
the ragged fringed and their hybrids as well.<br />
<strong>The</strong> opposite was true when the driver<br />
sighted a hillside of Epipactis blooming<br />
across the road th<strong>at</strong> the passenger missed. It<br />
didn't help th<strong>at</strong> the hillside was in bright<br />
sun, the grass had grow tall and turned rich<br />
yellow and the flowering <strong>orchid</strong>s were yellow<br />
flowered as well.<br />
Hybrids:<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera ×andrewsii (Niles) Luer top right<br />
Andrews’ hybrid fringed orchis<br />
(P. lacera × P. psycodes)<br />
Not <strong>at</strong> all uncommon throughout most of the<br />
range of the two parents.<br />
Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera<br />
×keenanii<br />
P.M. Brown<br />
Keenan’s<br />
hybrid<br />
fringed orchis<br />
(P. grandiflora × P. lacera)<br />
Uncommon and usually seen as individuals<br />
left and above<br />
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Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera ×enigma P.M. Brown<br />
Enigm<strong>at</strong>ic hybrid fringed orchis<br />
(P. grandiflora × P. psycodes)<br />
Local where both parents occur but easily overlooked<br />
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POGONIA is a small genus of only 3 species, and is found in both Asia and North<br />
America. Formerly the genus included those species, among others, th<strong>at</strong> are now tre<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
in Triphora, Isotria, and Cleistesiopsis, although some current authors are again including<br />
Isotria and Cleistesiopsis.<br />
Pogonia ophioglossoides Ker-Gawler<br />
rose pogonia; snakemouth <strong>orchid</strong><br />
forma albiflora Rand & Redfield–white-flowered form<br />
Range: Manitoba east to Newfoundland, south to Texas and Florida<br />
In the White Mountains region: very rare<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 8-35 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 1, rarely 2; cauline, ov<strong>at</strong>e, placed midway on the stem, 6-10 × 2 cm<br />
Flowers: 1-3 (4) terminal; subtended by a foliaceous bract; sepals and petals<br />
similar, lanceol<strong>at</strong>e to obov<strong>at</strong>e; the sepals wide spreading; lip sp<strong>at</strong>ul<strong>at</strong>e with a<br />
deeply fringed margin and bright yellow beard or, in the forma brachypogon the<br />
beard reduced to a few knobs, to 2 cm; perianth from light to dark, rosy-pink or<br />
lavender or, in the forma albiflora, pure white; individual flower size ca. 4 cm<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: moist meadows, open bogs and he<strong>at</strong>hs, roadside ditches, and sphagnous<br />
seeps<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e June to early August<br />
From Newfoundland to Florida and westward to the Mississippi Valley, this<br />
little jewel adorns open bogs and meadows, roadside ditches, borrow pits, and sphagnous<br />
seeps. Color and form varies gre<strong>at</strong>ly from colony to colony. It is not unusual to find plants<br />
with the petals and sepals<br />
very narrow and, within<br />
the same colony,<br />
individuals with the<br />
sepals and petals broad<br />
and rounded. Plants with<br />
coloring from pale lilac to<br />
intense magenta occasionally<br />
have white-flowered,<br />
forma albiflora, plants<br />
growing among them.<br />
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SPIRANTHES is a cosmopolitan genus of about 50 species. Tre<strong>at</strong>ed in the strictest sense it is one of the most easily<br />
recognized genera, but has some of the more difficult plants to identify to species. <strong>The</strong> rel<strong>at</strong>ively slender, often<br />
twisted, stems and spikes of small white or creamy-yellow (or pink in S. sinensis) flowers are universally<br />
recognizable.<br />
Key to the ladies’-tresses, Spiranthes, found within the White Mountains region.<br />
1a plants mid-summer flowering; leaves present <strong>at</strong> flowering time; inflorescence loosely arranged; flower<br />
flowers spaced out, <strong>north</strong>erly in distribution.....<strong>north</strong>ern slender ladies’-tresses, Spiranthes lacera var.<br />
lacera<br />
1b plants l<strong>at</strong>e summer-autumn flowering...2<br />
2a plants of open shales and grasslands; flowers, ca. 5 mm long, usually arranged in a single rank.....Case’s<br />
ladies’-tresses, Spiranthes casei<br />
2b flowers larger, 8 mm or more in length...3<br />
3a lip constricted in the middle, panduriform.....hooded ladies’-tresses, Spiranthes romanzoffiana<br />
3b lip not constricted in the middle...4<br />
4a entire flower white and/or cream; l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals and petals appressed.....nodding ladies’-tresses,<br />
Spiranthes cernua<br />
4b flower creamy-white; l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals and petals approxim<strong>at</strong>e or divergent; lower surface of lip<br />
butterscotch colored.....yellow ladies’-tresses, Spiranthes ochroleuca<br />
Spiranthes casei C<strong>at</strong>ling & Cruise var. casei<br />
Case’s ladies’-tresses<br />
Range: Ontario east to Nova Scotia, south to Wisconsin, <strong>north</strong>ern<br />
Pennsylvania and western Maine<br />
In the White Mountains region: rare and local in the <strong>north</strong>ern areas<br />
Plants: terrestrial, 8-50 cm tall, sparsely pubescent below, inflorescence densely<br />
pubescent<br />
Leaves: 3-5; appearing basal or on the lower portion of the stem; linearoblanceol<strong>at</strong>e,<br />
up to 2 cm wide × 20 cm long; ascending to spreading; leaves<br />
present <strong>at</strong> anthesis<br />
Flowers: 10-50; in a spike, loosely spiraled with 5 or more flowers per cycle,<br />
nodding from the base of the perianth; floral bracts green; sepals lanceol<strong>at</strong>e;<br />
l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals slightly spreading; petals ov<strong>at</strong>e to oblanceol<strong>at</strong>e; perianth ivory<br />
or greenish-white; lip oblong, 5.0-7.5 mm, the central portion often a<br />
deeper creamy yellow, with thin, fringed margins, the apex trunc<strong>at</strong>e;<br />
overall flower size 5 (6-9) mm long<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: dry open sites usually on the Canadian Shield in shaley soils,<br />
road scrapes, or thin-soil grasslands<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e August to September<br />
Although plants had been known for many years, it was only in 1974 th<strong>at</strong><br />
they were described as a species. Formerly these plants were often known<br />
as the ―<strong>north</strong>ern (Spiranthes) vernalis’, a species th<strong>at</strong> grows considerably<br />
further to the south. For a short time plants of S. casei were also known as S.<br />
intermedia, again a totally different plant th<strong>at</strong> is actually a hybrid between S.<br />
vernalis and S. lacera var. gracilis and does not range <strong>north</strong>ward. Plants of S. casei, as<br />
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so do most other species of Spiranthes, vary gre<strong>at</strong>ly in size, vigor, and number of flowers. <strong>The</strong><br />
small, nodding, partially open flowers in a single rank make them reasonably easy to spot and<br />
if growing among other species of Spiranthes they are very distinctive. <strong>The</strong> only possible<br />
confusion would be S. ×borealis, the hybrid between S. casei and S. ochroleuca. This hybrid is<br />
frequent in <strong>north</strong>ern New England were the two parents frequently grow together.<br />
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Spiranthes cernua (Linnaeus) L.C. Richard<br />
nodding ladies’-tresses<br />
Range: South Dakota east to Nova Scotia, south to Texas and<br />
Florida<br />
In the White Mountains region: locally common<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 10-50 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 3-5; appearing basal or on the lower portion of the<br />
stem; linear-oblanceol<strong>at</strong>e, up to 2 cm wide × 26 cm long;<br />
ascending to spreading; leaves are usually present <strong>at</strong> anthesis<br />
in most races<br />
Flowers: 10-50; in a spike, tightly to loosely spiraled with 5<br />
or more flowers per cycle, nodding from the base of the<br />
perianth or rarely ascending; bracts with a white or light<br />
green central stripe; sepals and petals similar, lanceol<strong>at</strong>e;<br />
perianth white, ivory; lip oblong, broad <strong>at</strong> the apex, the<br />
central portion of the lip, in some races, creamy-yellow or<br />
green; the sepals approxim<strong>at</strong>e and extending forward<br />
sometimes arching above the flower; individual flower size<br />
0.6-10.5 mm<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: wet to dryish open sites, lightly wooded areas, moist<br />
grassy roadsides, etc.<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e August to October<br />
Of all of our <strong>n<strong>at</strong>ive</strong> <strong>orchid</strong>s in North America, Spiranthes<br />
cernua is the most difficult for which to give a simple, concise<br />
description and narr<strong>at</strong>ive. Because it is a compilospecies–one<br />
th<strong>at</strong> has gene flow from several different similar species–<br />
plants in different geographic areas have strong resemblances<br />
to the basic diploid species contributing th<strong>at</strong> unidirectional<br />
gene flow. In <strong>north</strong>eastern North America we are somewh<strong>at</strong><br />
fortun<strong>at</strong>e th<strong>at</strong> the only basic diploid Spiranthes th<strong>at</strong> contributes gene flow <strong>at</strong> this time is S.<br />
ochroleuca. <strong>The</strong> so called ―Quebec race‖ shows possible gene flow from S. casei, but th<strong>at</strong><br />
remains to be proven. Th<strong>at</strong> is not to say th<strong>at</strong> identific<strong>at</strong>ion of S. cernua plants is always easy—<br />
quite to the contrary. Because the plants are apomictic—not fertilized in the traditional sexual<br />
manner, but producing seed (actually minute plantlets) directly without fertiliz<strong>at</strong>ion–local<br />
races occur th<strong>at</strong> are quite distinctive.<br />
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Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
typical S. cernua large-, square-flowered race ―Quebec race‖ showing some<br />
possible characters of S. casei<br />
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Spiranthes lacera Rafinesque var. lacera<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern slender ladies’-tresses<br />
Range: Alberta east to Nova Scotia, south to Missouri and<br />
Virginia<br />
In the White Mountains region: local<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 15-65 cm tall; pubescent<br />
Leaves: 2-4; ov<strong>at</strong>e, dark green, 1-2 cm wide × 2-5 cm long, usually<br />
present <strong>at</strong> flowering time<br />
Flowers: 10-35; in a single rank, in a dense spiral; sepals and petals<br />
similar, elliptic; perianth white; lip oblong, with the apex<br />
rounded; central portion green with a clearly defined crisp apron;<br />
the lower flowers spaced out from those above; individual flower<br />
size 4.0-7.5 mm<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: dry to moist meadows, grassy roadsides, cemeteries,<br />
open sandy areas in woodlands, lawns, old fields<br />
Flowering period: July to l<strong>at</strong>e August<br />
<strong>The</strong> differences between this variety and the more southerly var.<br />
gracilis are not gre<strong>at</strong>, but the more <strong>north</strong>ern of the two has the<br />
lower flowers well spaced out on the inflorescence and they<br />
appear to be much smaller because of the position of the sepals.<br />
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Spiranthes ochroleuca (Rydberg) Rydberg<br />
yellow ladies’-tresses<br />
Range: Michigan east to Nova Scotia, south to Kentucky<br />
and South Carolina<br />
In the White Mountains region: occasional to local<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 10-55 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 3-5; appearing basal or on the lower portion of the<br />
stem; linear-lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, up to 2 cm wide × 21 cm long;<br />
ascending to spreading; the leaves are present <strong>at</strong> anthesis<br />
Flowers: 10-50; in a spike, tight-to-loosely spiraled with 3-<br />
4(5) flowers per cycle, ascending; sepals and petals similar,<br />
lanceol<strong>at</strong>e; l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals appressed to petals and lip, straight;<br />
perianth white to cream-colored; lip oblong to ov<strong>at</strong>e, the<br />
central portion of the lip a deeper creamy yellow or<br />
butterscotch color, individual flower size 0.7-1.2 cm<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: dry to somewh<strong>at</strong> moist open sites, ledges, barrens,<br />
slightly wooded areas, grassy roadsides<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e August to September<br />
Typically, Spiranthes ochroleuca has a distinct butterscotchcolored<br />
trough in the center of the lip, something th<strong>at</strong> is<br />
very visible if one looks <strong>at</strong> the bottom side of the lip.<br />
Perhaps the very best areas to look for the yellow ladies’tresses<br />
are roadside scrapes and borrow pits. <strong>The</strong> plants<br />
often colonize such areas. <strong>The</strong>y usually occupy the drier<br />
portions and the nodding ladies’-tresses, S. cernua, often is<br />
found in the wetter areas. Such combin<strong>at</strong>ions are very<br />
helpful in comparing the species. Hybrids with S. casei are<br />
known as S.<br />
×borealis.<br />
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Spiranthes romanzoffiana Chamisso<br />
hooded ladies’-tresses<br />
Range: Alaska east to Newfoundland; south to California, <strong>north</strong>ern New<br />
Mexico, Indiana, Pennsylvania; Northern Ireland, Gre<strong>at</strong> Britain<br />
In the White Mountains region: apparently quite rare despite many old<br />
records<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 10-50 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 3-6; basal and extending up the lower ¼ of the stem linearlanceol<strong>at</strong>e,<br />
up to 1.5 cm wide × 25 cm long, passing into a few slender<br />
bracts; present <strong>at</strong> flowering time<br />
Flowers: 10-60; in a dense spiral; nearly horizontal to ascending; sepals<br />
and petals similar, creamy white to greenish-white to creamy-yellow,<br />
lanceol<strong>at</strong>e, acumin<strong>at</strong>e; l<strong>at</strong>eral sepals appressed to the petals and lip<br />
forming an ascending hood; the lip oblong, panduriform, the<br />
broadened margin recurved and finely lacer<strong>at</strong>e; individual flower size<br />
0.9-1.2 cm<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: rocky riverbanks, seeps, fens; usually calcareous<br />
Flowering period: mid July to August<br />
Spiranthes romanzoffiana is the most widespread Spiranthes to be found in<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern North America. Starting to flower in midsummer in the far<br />
<strong>north</strong> it continues flowering until l<strong>at</strong>e August further south. <strong>The</strong> almondscented<br />
flowers and arching hood are distinctive among our eastern<br />
Spiranthes<br />
and could<br />
not possibly be mistaken for<br />
any other species. In a few<br />
areas it may hybridize with<br />
Spiranthes lacera var. lacera<br />
to produce Spiranthes<br />
259<br />
×simpsonii.<br />
Climbing down a<br />
mountainside after a<br />
bre<strong>at</strong>htaking ride in a tbar<br />
up the<br />
mountain<br />
might be<br />
foolish. Of<br />
course<br />
finding a<br />
new site<br />
for the<br />
Spiranthes<br />
made it<br />
worth it.
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
Hybrids:<br />
Spiranthes ×borealis P.M. Brown<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern hybrid ladies’-tresses<br />
(S. casei var. casei × S. ochroleuca)<br />
Known primarily from <strong>north</strong>ern New England there are few<br />
places where both parents are found within the range of this<br />
work. It appears as a small flowered S. ochroleuca or a largeflowered<br />
S. casei and may be either single or multiple ranked.<br />
Spiranthes ×simpsonii C<strong>at</strong>ling & Sheviak<br />
Simpson’s hybrid ladies’-tresses<br />
(S. lacera var. lacera × S. romanzoffiana)<br />
Although the two parents often grow in<br />
proximity the hybrid is known from only a few<br />
collections and perhaps has been overlooked in<br />
the past.<br />
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TRIPHORA consists of about 20 species in North America, the West<br />
Indies, Mexico, and Central America, and is a genus of small, delic<strong>at</strong>e<br />
herbs, many of which may be largely mycotrophic. <strong>The</strong>y all arise from<br />
swollen tuberoids and produce, in some, very colorful, although small,<br />
flowers. Several species have flowers th<strong>at</strong> do not fully open.<br />
Triphora trianthophoros (Swartz) Rydberg<br />
three birds <strong>orchid</strong><br />
forma albidoflava Keenan–white-flowered form<br />
Range: Texas <strong>north</strong> to Minnesota east to Maine south to<br />
Florida<br />
In the White Mountains region: locally abundant <strong>at</strong> the<br />
<strong>north</strong>ern limit of its range in Carroll County, NH<br />
Plant: terrestrial, 8-25 cm tall<br />
Leaves: 2-8; broadly ov<strong>at</strong>e-cord<strong>at</strong>e, with smooth margins, dark<br />
green often with a purple cast; 10-15 × 2-15 mm<br />
Flowers: 1-8 (12), nodding; from the axils of the upper leaves; sepals<br />
and petals similar, oblanceol<strong>at</strong>e; perianth white to pink; lip 3-lobed,<br />
the central lobe with the margin sinu<strong>at</strong>e and 3 parallel green crests<br />
or, in the forma albidoflava, the perianth pure white and the crests<br />
yellow; individual flower size ca. 1-2 cm<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong>: deciduous and mixed woodlands, usually with American<br />
beech and Canadian hemlock<br />
Flowering period: l<strong>at</strong>e July-mid September<br />
Three birds <strong>orchid</strong> is the largest-flowered and showiest of the<br />
genus Triphora. <strong>The</strong> plants are quite elusive and only appear for a<br />
few days most years. <strong>The</strong> stunning little flowers open in midmorning<br />
and usually close by mid-afternoon, leaving only a few<br />
hours for the eager eye to observe them. Colonies are not <strong>at</strong> all<br />
consistent in the flowering habits from year to year and it often<br />
takes a gre<strong>at</strong> deal of<br />
persistence on the part<br />
of the observer to<br />
c<strong>at</strong>ch them in prime<br />
condition.<br />
forma albidoflava<br />
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262
Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
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Brown & Folsom: WILD ORCHIDS OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE<br />
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:<br />
This project would not have been nearly so fruitful without the help of the following botanists and <strong>n<strong>at</strong>ive</strong> <strong>orchid</strong><br />
enthusiasts: Chris M<strong>at</strong>trick, C<strong>at</strong>hy Starke (WMNF); Frankie Brackley, Shirley Curtis, Sally Puth, the l<strong>at</strong>e Phil<br />
Keenan, Mike Cline & Stephen Thomas (TMCC), Jean Stefanik, Diane Allen & Paul Hines, Chuck Sheviak, and<br />
several anonymous persons whose inform<strong>at</strong>ion and directions traveled down the pipeline ending up with us.<br />
Diane Hines, Jim Fowler, Tom Nelson, and Stan Folsom all assisted with proofreading and made helpful<br />
comments<br />
LITERATURE CITED AND SUGGESTED READING:<br />
Ames, O. 1906. Habenaria orbicul<strong>at</strong>a and Habenaria macrophylla. Rhodora 8: 1-5.<br />
Baldwin, H. 1884. <strong>The</strong> Orchids of New England. John Wiley & Sons, New York.<br />
Brackley, F.E. 1985. <strong>The</strong> Orchids of New Hampshire. Rhodora 87(849):1-117.<br />
Brown, P.M. 1988. Stalking the wild <strong>orchid</strong>s. Wild Flower Notes 3(1): 4-29.<br />
_____. 1993. A Field and Study Guide to the Orchids of New England and New York. Jamaica Plain, Mass.: Orchis<br />
Press.<br />
_____. 1997. Taxonomy and distribution of Spiranthes casei C<strong>at</strong>ling & Cruise in <strong>north</strong>ern New England. Master‖s<br />
<strong>The</strong>sis. University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth.<br />
_____. 2002. Resurrection of the genus Gymnadeniopsis Rydberg. North American N<strong>at</strong>ive Orchid Journal 8:32-40.<br />
_____. 2007. <strong>The</strong> taxonomy and Distribution of Spiranthes casei in Northern New England with references to<br />
extant sites in New York, Pennsylvania, and Nova Scotia. North American N<strong>at</strong>ive Orchid Journal 14(3):<br />
212-233.<br />
_____. 2008. A Long-Known, but Enigm<strong>at</strong>ic, Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera Hybrid from Eastern North America. North American<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ive Orchid Journal 14(4): 254-61.<br />
Brown, P.M. and S.N. Folsom. 1997. Wild Orchids of the Northeastern United St<strong>at</strong>es. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell<br />
University Press.<br />
_____. 2007. Wild Orchids of the Northeast. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.<br />
Cameron, J.W. 1976. <strong>The</strong> Orchids of Maine. Orono: University of Maine <strong>at</strong> Orono.<br />
Campbell, C.S. and L.M. Eastman. 1980. Flora of Oxford County, Maine. Life Sciences and Agricultural<br />
Experiment St<strong>at</strong>ion, University of Maine, Technical Bulletin 99: 1-244. Orono, Maine.<br />
C<strong>at</strong>ling, P.M. 1976. On the geographical distribution, ecology and distinctive fe<strong>at</strong>ures of Listera ×veltmanii Case.<br />
Rhodora 78(814): 261-269.<br />
_____. 1978. Taxonomic notes on Spiranthes casei C<strong>at</strong>ling & Cruise and S. xintermedia Ames. Rhodora 80: 377-89.<br />
C<strong>at</strong>ling P.M. and V. C<strong>at</strong>ling. 1994. Identific<strong>at</strong>ion of Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera lacera hybrids from New Brunswick and Nova<br />
Scotia. Lindleyana 9: 19-32.<br />
C<strong>at</strong>ling, P.M. and J.E. Cruise. 1974. Spiranthes casei, a new species from <strong>north</strong>eastern North America. Rhodora<br />
76(808): 526-536.<br />
C<strong>at</strong>ling, P.M. and C.J. Sheviak. 1993. Taxonomic notes on some North American <strong>orchid</strong>s. Lindleyana 8(2): 80-<br />
81.<br />
Chapman, W.K. 1997. Orchids of the Northeast. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press.<br />
Cutter, Jr., V.M. ca. 1940. New Hampshire Orchids. Unpublished manuscript.<br />
Eastman, L.M. 1978. Rare and Endangered Vascular Plant Species in Maine. <strong>The</strong> New England Botanical Club in<br />
cooper<strong>at</strong>ion with <strong>The</strong> U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [Region 5, Newton Corner, Massachusetts<br />
Haines, A. and T.F. Vining. 1998. Flora of Maine - A Manual for Identific<strong>at</strong>ion of N<strong>at</strong>ive and N<strong>at</strong>uralized Vascular<br />
Plants of Maine. Bar Harbor: V.F. Thomas Co.<br />
Kallunki, J.A. 1976. Popul<strong>at</strong>ion studies in Goodyera (Orchidaceae) with emphasis on the hybrid origin of G.<br />
tessel<strong>at</strong>a. Brittonia 28: 53-75.<br />
Keenan, P.E. 1983. A Complete Guide to Maine’s Orchids. Freeport: DeLorme Publishing Company.<br />
_____. 1992, A new form of Triphora trianthophora<br />
(Orchidacaeae). Rhodora 94:38-39.<br />
_____. 1999. Wild Orchids Across North America. Portland: Timber Press.<br />
Luer, C.A. 1975. <strong>The</strong> N<strong>at</strong>ive Orchids of the United St<strong>at</strong>es and Canada excluding Florida. Bronx: New York<br />
Botanical Garden.<br />
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Pease, A.S. 1964. A Flora of Northern New Hampshire. <strong>The</strong> New England Botanical Club, Inc. Cambridge,<br />
Massachusetts.<br />
Reddoch, A.H. & J.M. Reddoch. 1993. <strong>The</strong> species pair Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera orbicul<strong>at</strong>a and P. macrophylla (Orchidaceae):<br />
taxonomy, morphology, distributions and habits. Lindleyana 8(4): 171-187.<br />
Rydberg, P.A. 1901. Gymnadeniopsis Rydberg in Britton, Manual of the Flora of the Northeastern United St<strong>at</strong>es, p.<br />
293.<br />
Seymour, F.C. 1982. <strong>The</strong> Flora of New England, 2 nd ed. Phytologia Memoirs V. Plainfield, New Jersey.<br />
Sheviak, C.J. 1982. Biosystem<strong>at</strong>ic Study of the Spiranthes cernua Complex. Bulletin 448. Albany: New York St<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Museum.<br />
_____. 1991. Lindleyana 6(4): 228-234.<br />
_____. 1991. Morphological vari<strong>at</strong>ion in the compilospecies Spiranthes cernua (L.) L.C. Rich.: Ecologically<br />
limited effects of gene flow. Lindleyana 6: 228-34.<br />
_____. 1995. Cypripedium parviflorum Salisbury part 2: <strong>The</strong> larger flowered plants and p<strong>at</strong>terns of vari<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
American Orchid Society Bulletin 64(6): 606-612.<br />
_____. 1999. <strong>The</strong> identities of Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera hyperborea and P. huronensis, with the description of a new species<br />
from North America. Lindleyana 14:193–203.<br />
Sheviak, C.S. and P.M. C<strong>at</strong>ling. 1980. <strong>The</strong> identity and st<strong>at</strong>us of Spiranthes ochroleuca. Rhodora 82: 525-562.<br />
Slow Empiricist. 2009. Wh<strong>at</strong> I did on my summer vac<strong>at</strong>ion. North American N<strong>at</strong>ive Orchid Journal 15(1): 46-49.<br />
_____. …..of cabbages and kings. North American N<strong>at</strong>ive Orchid Journal 15(2): 122-24.<br />
Stone, W. 1973. <strong>The</strong> Plants of Southern New Jersey. Boston: Quarterman Public<strong>at</strong>ions. (reprint of 1910-11 version).<br />
Stoutamire, W.P. 1974. Rel<strong>at</strong>ionships of purple fringed <strong>orchid</strong>s Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera psycodes and P. grandiflora. Brittonia<br />
26: 42-58.<br />
Wallace, J.E. 1951. <strong>The</strong> Orchids of Maine. Orono: University of Maine <strong>at</strong> Orono.<br />
Wallace, L.E. 2002. An evalu<strong>at</strong>ion of taxonomic boundaries in Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera dil<strong>at</strong><strong>at</strong>a (Orchidaceae). Rhodora<br />
105(924): 322-36.<br />
_____. 2003. Molecular Evidence For Allopolyploid Speci<strong>at</strong>ion And Recurrent Origins In Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera huronensis<br />
(Orchidaceae) Intern<strong>at</strong>ional Journal of Plant Science. 164(6): 907-16.<br />
_____. 2004. A comparison of genetic vari<strong>at</strong>ion and structure in the allopolyploid Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera huronensis and its<br />
diploid progenitors, Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera aquilonis and Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera dil<strong>at</strong><strong>at</strong>a (Orchidaceae). Canadian Journal of<br />
Botany 82:244-252.<br />
Whiting, R.E. and P.M. C<strong>at</strong>ling. 1986. Orchids of Ontario. Ottawa: CanaColl Found<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Paul Martin Brown<br />
na<strong>orchid</strong>@aol.com<br />
Stan Folsom<br />
stanartworks@aol.com<br />
10896 SW90 th Terrace<br />
Ocala, Florida 34481<br />
(summer)<br />
36 Avenue F<br />
Acton, Maine 04001<br />
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from the swamps of SOUTH FLORIDA to the wilds of <strong>north</strong>ern ALASKA….<br />
to windswept NEWFOUNDLAND and the Big Bend of WEST TEXAS<br />
WILD ORCHIDS….<br />
from the University Press of Florida by Paul Martin Brown & Stan Folsom<br />
Ordering inform<strong>at</strong>ion from University Press of Florida www.upf.com or 1-800-226-3822<br />
or for signed and inscribed copies from the authors <strong>at</strong> na<strong>orchid</strong>@aol.com<br />
or directly from the author <strong>at</strong> na<strong>orchid</strong>@aol.com<br />
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Forthcoming<br />
Genera Orchidacearum, Volume 5:<br />
Epidendroideae (Part 2)<br />
Edited by Alec M. Pridgeon, Phillip J. Cribb, Mark W. Chase, and<br />
Finn Rasmussen<br />
664 pages, 400 line illustr<strong>at</strong>ions, and 48 color pl<strong>at</strong>es.<br />
Oxford University Press<br />
Hardcover - due December 2009 $195<br />
ISBN-13: 9780198507130<br />
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and the newest guide now<br />
available…….<br />
W<strong>at</strong>ch in the spring for the<br />
next guide Woodland and Bog<br />
Rein Orchids in your Pocket<br />
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