Scotty Smith's Orchids of Colorado. - Southwest Colorado Wildflowers

Goodyera oblongifolia Raf.Goodyera oblongifolia Rafinesque; (Good year rah)+(ob longi folia). Named in honor of the EnglishBotanist John Goodyear (1592-1664). Oblongifolia from the word oblong, referring to the shape ofthe leaves in this orchidOther names: Goodyera decipiens, Epipactis decipiens, Peramium decipiensCommon names: Menzies rattlesnake plantain, giant rattlesnake plantain.Flowering: late July thru September.Description: hairy perennial, mostly lying flat on the ground with flower stem of 6–16 inches tallgrowing out of the rosette of leaves, with 10-30 densely close, tiny, fuzzy flowers with greenishsepals and white petals, the apex looking like a spout. Three to seven pear-shaped leaves forming abasal rosette, dark, shiny green or blue green with a prominent white spreading stripe along midrib.It may be confused with other Goodyera species, but this one is more common and larger.Habitat: Most often in coniferous woods where there is a well developed humus layer overlyingsand. Elevation Range: 8,000 to 11,000 feet. Often appears as a ground cover. This orchid can befound by the hundreds in many areas around Colorado. Goodyera oblongifolia is one of our mostcommon orchids in Colorado.148