keys to the vascular plants of east texas - Botanical Research ...

ORCHIDACEAE 755
45 occur in East TX including the federally endangered Spiranthes parksii and the newly described
Spiranthes eatonii and S. sylvatica (Brown 1999, 2001). Luer (1972, 1975), Liggio and
Liggio (1999), and Brown (2003) have excellent color photographs of the orchids of East TX;
many photographs by Joe Liggio are included in this volume. An additional species that should
be looked for in East TX is Pteroglossaspis ecristata (Fernald) Rofle (CRESTLESS PLUME ORCHID).
This orchid, native to the se U.S. is known from Vernon Parish, LA, immediately adjacent to the
TX border, and is likely to be found in East TX (E. Keith, pers. comm.). It is characterized by a
raceme of flowers that are yellowish green to brown with purplish brown or deep purple markings.
Family name from Orchis, a genus of 33 species native from the n temperate zone to sw
China and India. (Greek: orchis, testicle, in reference to the shape of the tuberous roots of some
European species in genera such as Orchis, Ophrys, and Serapias—Cribb 1999) (subclass
Liliidae—Cronquist; order Asparagales—APG II)
FAMILY RECOGNITION IN THE FIELD: perennial herbs usually with alternate or basal leaves (but
leaves can be spiral or opposite or whorled or reduced to inconspicuous bracts); reproductive
parts united into a central column; flowers bilaterally symmetrical (or asymmetrical in
Tipularia), with 3 sepals and 3 petals, 1 of the petals (the lip) usually being different from the
other 2; fruit a capsule with very numerous nearly microscopic seeds.
REFERENCES: Correll 1937, 1947, 1950, 1961; Schultes & Pease 1963; Luer 1972, 1975; Magrath 1973,
2001a, 2001b; Dressler 1981, 1983, 1986, 1993; Williams & Williams 1983; Rasmussen 1985, 1999,
2000; Atwood 1986; Burns-Balogh & Funk 1986; Catling & Catling 1991b; Sheehan & Sheehan
1994; Dressler & Chase 1995; Neyland & Urbatsch 1995; Cameron 1999; Cameron et al. 1999;
Chase 1999; Freudenstein & Rasmussen 1999; Liggio & Liggio 1999; Pridgeon et al. 1999, 2001;
Cameron & Chase 2000; Freudenstein et al. 2000; Neiland & Wilcock 2000; Molvray et al.
2000; Chase 2001; Freudenstein & Chase 2001; McKeever 2001; Brown 2002a, 2003; Magrath et
al. 2002; Romero-González et al. 2002.
1. Stems at flowering time without leaf blades (even at base), with sheaths or clasping bracts only;
plants green and photosynthetic OR not green (yellowish to reddish, brownish, or purplish) and
saprophytic/mycotrophic.
2. Lip with a slender spur (10–)15–23 mm long; flowers asymmetrical, with one petal overlapping
the dorsal sepal ______________________________________________________________ Tipularia
2. Lip without a spur; flowers bilaterally symmetrical.
3. Plants green, photosynthetic; flowers sessile; perianth white to ivory, cream, or green, with
or without green or yellow markings; lower floral bracts slightly longer than the ovaries
they subtend ________________________________________________________________ Spiranthes
3. Plants not green, saprophytic/mycotrophic, the stems usually yellowish to reddish, brownish,
or purplish; flowers short-pedicelled; perianth mottled or with markings, variously purple,
pink, reddish brown, brown, yellow, or white (but at least some darker markings present);
lower floral bracts shorter than or equal to the ovaries in length.
4. Stem bracts elliptic-ovate, shorter to slightly longer than broad; floral bracts easily observed;
lip 7–20 mm long, with 5–7 longitudinal ridges or crests, without 2 distinct basal
lamellae; rhizomes with annular markings, not coral-like (not branched) _______________ Hexalectris
4. Stem with long, tubular sheaths much longer than broad; floral bracts minute, inconspicuous;
lip 2.6–7.5 mm long, without ridges or crests, with 2 distinct basal lamellae;
rhizomes lacking annular markings, coral-like (highly branched) ____________________ Corallorhiza
1. Stems at flowering time with 1 or more leaf blades; plants green and photosynthetic.
5. Lip a conspicuous slipper-like pouch, cream to pale yellow, (4.1–)5.3–6.5 cm long; fertile anthers
2; pollen granular; flowers 1(–2) per plant _____________________________________ Cypripedium
5. Lip various, but not a slipper-like pouch, variously colored, 1.1–33(–38.5) mm long; fertile anther
1; pollen in 1–6 sac-like waxy masses (= pollinia); flowers 1–many per plant.
6. Flowers with a slender, slightly club-shaped or saccate spur 2.5–140 mm long; flower color