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

Listera borealis MorongListera borealis, (lis-ter-ah)+(bor-re‟-alis) - from the Latin for boreal or from the north. Usuallypertaining to its northern habitats. Listera, the genus was named after the Dr. Martin Lister, anEnglish Botanist and physician.Common name: Northern Twayblade orchid.Flowering: between the middle of June thru July.Description: Flowering stem usually not more than 4-5 inches tall, most of the time smaller. Two toten flowers ascend up the stem. The flowers are several shades of green, from translucent to darkshiny green, darkest green in the center of the lip, elongated green stripe. The orchid flower is 3sepals and 3 petals, one which has formed the stylistic lip of this plant. The lip of the plant is oblongin shape and narrowly cleft at the apex of the lip. Leaves are typically two each, opposed to eachother. Roughly midway up the stem, they are green and ovate-oblong in shape.Habitat: This orchid is found growing at high elevations in Spruce/Aspen forests at around 9,000-11,000 feet in elevation. Typically in very wet areas to open running water.This is one of our rarest orchids in Colorado. When found only a few plants are found at eachlocation.150