ORCHIDACEAE ORCHID FAMILY Plant: herbs, vines rare Stem: rhizomes or corms may be present Root: Leaves: simple, usually alternate but rarely opposite or whorled; parallel veined, somewhat fleshy and often forming a sheath at base; no stipules Flowers: perfect; often showy and unusual (irregular) and solitary or in spikes; flower with bract; 3 sepals or 2 by fusion, colored or green; 3 petals, colored or white, often with 2 lateral petals with a third larger petal modified into a lip, sometimes with a backward spur; stamens usually 1, rarely 2-3; ovary inferior, 3 carpels, many ovules (stamens adnate to pistil) (flower is rotated 180 degrees, resupinate, in most species but not all) Fruit: capsule, 3-chambered, very small and very numerous seeds, or berry Other: very large family, most abundant in the tropics, many are epiphytic; Monocotyledons Group Genera: 800+ genera; locally Cypripedium (lady-slipper); Epipactis; Goodyera; Spiranthes and others WARNING family descriptions are only a layman s guide and should not be used as definitive
Flower Morphology in the Orchid flowers are complex examples of adaptation with many and varied insect pollinators 3 sepals free or 2 may be fused, colored or green; 3 petals free or 2 may be fused, usually colored, 1 petal (lower in resupinate flowers) usually forms a lip (various sizes and shapes including a pouch in one genus, and spurs in several others). Many, but not all, orchid flowers are rotated by 180 degrees (resupinate condition) by rotation of the ovary or the pedicle with the now basal petal forming a long lip that benefits insect pollination (sort of a runway perhaps) Resupinate condition (flower upside down) The lower resupinate lower lip may form a pouch in some species Sepals Petals Non-Resupinate condition The lower lip petal may have a spur Both sepals and Petals in example above are colored the lower petal (Lip or Labellum) is elongated and fringed, the fleshy structures on the lip is termed the Callus (any hard protuberances)
Flower Morphology in the Examples of common genera [Crippled] Cranefly Orchid Tipularia discolor (Pursh) Nutt. Dragon's Mouth [Swamp Pink] Arethusa bulbosa L. White Lady's Slipper Cypripedium candidum Muhl. ex Willd. [Yellow] Orange Fringed Orchid Platanthera ciliaris (L.) Lindl. Grass Pink Orchid Calopogon tuberosus (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb. var. tuberosus [Broadleaf] Helleborine Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz (Introduced) Snakemouth Orchid [Rose Pogonia] Pogonia ophioglossoides (L.) Ker Gawl. Soldier's [Lawn] Orchid Zeuxine strateumatica (L.) Schltr. Summer [Spotted] Coralroot Corallorhiza maculata (Raf.) Raf. Downy Rattlesnake Plantain Goodyera pubescens (Willd.) R. Br. ex Ait. f. Nodding Lady's Tresses Spiranthes cernua (L.) L.C. Rich.
ORCHIDACEAE ORCHID FAMILY Dragon's Mouth [Swamp Pink]; Arethusa bulbosa L. [Tuberous] Grass Pink Orchid; Calopogon tuberosus (L.) B.S.P. Summer [Spotted] Coralroot; Corallorhiza maculata (Raf.) Raf. Yellow [Pale] Coralroot; Corallorhiza trifida Chatelain Spring Coralroot [Coral Root]; Corallorhiza wisteriana Conrad Pink Lady Slipper [Moccasin Flower]; Cypripedium acaule Aiton White Lady's Slipper; Cypripedium candidum Muhl. ex Willd. Greater Yellow Lady's Slipper; Cypripedium parviflorum Salisb. var. pubescens (Willd.) Knight [Broadleaf] Helleborine; Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz (Introduced) Downy Rattlesnake Plantain; Goodyera pubescens (Willd.) R. Br. ex Ait. f. [Yellow] Orange Fringed Orchid; Platanthera ciliaris (L.) Lindl. Small Green Wood [Club-Spur] Orchid; Platanthera clavellata (Michx.) Luer [Habenaria clavellata] Scentbottle [Tall White Rein Orchard]; Platanthera dilatata (Pursh) Lindl. ex Beck Green Fringed [Ragged] Orchid; Platanthera lacera (Michx.) G. Don Prairie White Fringed Orchid; Platanthera leucophaea (Nutt.) Lindl. Snakemouth Orchid [Rose Pogonia]; Pogonia ophioglossoides (L.) Ker Gawl. Nodding Lady's Tresses; Spiranthes cernua (L.) L.C. Rich. Northern Slender Lady's Tresses; Spiranthes lacera (Raf.) Raf. October [Lesser] Lady's Tresses; Spiranthes ovalis Lindl. Little Lady's Tresses; Spiranthes tuberosa Raf. Spring [Grass-Leaved] Lady's Tresses; Spiranthes vernalis Engelm. & Gray [Crippled] Cranefly Orchid; Tipularia discolor (Pursh) Nutt. Soldier's [Lawn] Orchid; Zeuxine strateumatica (L.) Schltr.
Dragon's Mouth [Swamp Pink] Arethusa bulbosa L. Waterloo Recreation Area, Washtenaw County, Michigan Notes: flower irregular 2 sepals (fused from 3) and 3 petals pink (magenta) form an arch over a veined, fringed and ridged lip (3rd petal) with bristles; solitary elliptical leaf (after flowering); mostly in sphagnum bogs; late spring to early summer [V Max Brown, 2009]
[Tuberous] Grass Pink Orchid Calopogon tuberosus (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb. var. tuberosus Kitty Todd Nature Preserve, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: flower large and very irregular lip at top with white spot having yellowtipped bristles or hairs, petals and sepals pink (rarely white); leaves linear and grass-like, strongly veined; species variable; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2007] USDA
Summer [Spotted] Coralroot Corallorhiza maculata (Raf.) Raf. Terry Peak area, Lawrence County, South Dakota Notes: sepals and petals (6 tepals) form a hood (and wings) over a downturned lip, and are reddish (similar to stem), lip white with purple spots; stem reddish to reddish-purple, a single stem but plants often grow in clusters, from rhizomes; 2-4 colorless sheaths (leaves) are present at flowering; mid-high elevation forests; summer [V Max Brown, 2014]
Yellow [Pale] Coralroot Corallorhiza trifida Chatelain Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Notes: sepals and petals (6 tepals) form a hood (and wings) over a down-turned lip, and are pale yellow, the lip is white, somewhat grooved and toothed on margins; stem grows from a rhizome; a colorless sheath (leaf) is present at flowering; lower elevation woods; summer [V Max Brown, 2012]
Spring Coralroot [Coral Root] Corallorhiza wisteriana Conrad Wilson s Creek National Battlefield, Greene County, Missouri Notes: sepals and petals (6 tepals) are linear and form a hood over a down-turned lip, sepals and petals are purplish-brown with darker lines and dashes, the lip is white with purple marks, somewhat toothed on margins; stem grows from a rhizome; a colorless sheath (leaf) is present at flowering; spring [V Max Brown, 2010]
Pink Lady Slipper [Moccasin Flower] Cypripedium acaule Aiton Waterloo Recreation Area, Washtenaw County, Michigan Notes: flower lip forming a large inflated pouch, pink with red veins, sepals and lateral petals yellowish brown and streaked, subtended by one green bract, solitary on scape; usually 2 elliptical basal leaves; woods and bogs; late spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2009]
White Lady's Slipper Cypripedium candidum Muhl. ex Willd. Goose Creek Grasslands, Lenawee County, Michigan Notes: flower lip forming an inflated white pouch, sepals and lateral petals yellowish green with dark stripes; leaves narrowly elliptical, somewhat sheathing up the stem and erect, uppermost leaf subtends flower; wet meadows and swamps; late spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2009]
Greater Yellow Lady's Slipper Cypripedium parviflorum Salisb. var. pubescens (Willd.) Knight Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: flower forming a large inflated pouch, yellow, sepals greenish to brown; leaves alternate, ovate to lanceolate, sheathing toward base; a woods flower; spring [V Max Brown, 2004]
Another example of Cypripedium parviflorum Salisb. var. pubescens but from higher elevations of the northern Black Hills, SD. The pouch is much smaller than in eastern examples. Varieties of this species is confusing.
[Broadleaf] Helleborine Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz (Introduced) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: 3 sepals (pinkish white to greenish), 3 petals - 2 lateral and a long cup-shaped lip, purple interior, often a one-sided spike; leaves alternate, elliptical to lanceolate, sessile; summer [V Max Brown, 2006]
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain Goodyera pubescens (Willd.) R. Br. ex Ait. f. Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: flower white,1 sepal and 2 petals fused to form a hood over the lower lip, lateral sepals free, on terminal spike; leaves basal and dark green, whitened adjacent to midrib, secondary veins white, leaves present at flowering; plant downy; woods; summer [V Max Brown, 2006]
[Yellow] Orange Fringed Orchid Platanthera ciliaris (L.) Lindl. Kitty Todd Nature Preserve, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: flower irregular petals and sepals orange (yellow), lip not 3-parted but deeply fringed; leaves alternate, linear and long; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2007]
Small Green Wood [Club-Spur] Orchid Platanthera clavellata (Michx.) Luer [Habenaria clavellata] Waterloo Recreation Area, Washtenaw County, Michigan Notes: flower irregular mostly white and small, lateral petals and upper sepal fused into hood, lateral sepals spreading, lip with 3 lobes, long club-shaped spur at base; leaves alternate, one large sheathing leaf in middle of stem with reduced leaves upward; swamps and bogs; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2009]
Scentbottle [Tall White Rein Orchard] Platanthera dilatata (Pursh) Lindl. ex Beck Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Notes: flowers white (sometimes yellowish or greenish), with a hood, 2 wings, a lip and a spur in a raceme, fragrant; leaves mostly lanceolate, parallel veins, base sheaths stem; wet sites, from plains to alpine environments; summer [V Max Brown, 2012] spur
Green Fringed [Ragged] Orchid Platanthera lacera (Michx.) G. Don A Southwest Missouri Prairie, Polk County, Missouri Notes: flower irregular petals (4-8 mm) and sepals (3-6 mm) fused at base and form a wide hood, white, cream or greenish-white, lip very deeply 3-parted and fringed, spur up to about 15-17 mm long, viscidia 1-1.5 mm apart, flowers on elongated spike; leaves alternate, narrowly lanceolate and tend to wrap the stem; prairies, forests and other damp areas; summer [V Max Brown, 2015]
Prairie White Fringed Orchid Platanthera leucophaea (Nutt.) Lindl. Waterloo Recreation Area, Washtenaw County, Michigan Notes: flower irregular petals and sepals fused at base and form a wide hood, white, cream or greenish-white, lip 3-parted and fringed, on elongated spike; leaves alternate, narrowly lanceolate and wrap the stem; swamps and bogs; summer (flower shown not complete) [V Max Brown, 2009]
Snakemouth Orchid [Rose Pogonia] Pogonia ophioglossoides (L.) Ker Gawl. Waterloo Recreation Area, Washtenaw County, Michigan Notes: flower irregular petals and sepals pink (white), lip with yellow bristles; single larger leaf, ellipticaloblong; wet area and bogs, summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2008]
Nodding Lady's Tresses Spiranthes cernua (L.) L.C. Rich. Kitty Todd Nature Preserve, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: flowers in multiple rows on stem, horizontal or nodding, lip white, glandular hairs present, one bract overlays flower; USDA leaves linear and long, upper leaves much reduced; late summer and fall (variable, most common species of Lady s Tresses) [V Max Brown, 2006]
Northern Slender Lady's Tresses Spiranthes lacera (Raf.) Raf. Near Greers Ferry Lake, Cleburne County, Arkansas Notes: flowers irregular, often (not always) forming a symmetrical single spiral; sepals and lateral petals white, up to 7 mm long, lateral sepals free to near base and mostly parallel to flower, lip with irregular or toothed lip, there is a green-colored area on inside of lip; 2 to 4 basal leaves, sometimes present at flowering (or not), elliptical to ovate, glabrous; plant erect, up to 60+ cm; often in dry forests can be found in many habitats; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2014]
October [Lesser] Lady's Tresses Spiranthes ovalis Lindl. Sam A. Baker State Park, Wayne County, Missouri Notes: flowers in multiple rows on stem, white with white lip, tightly bound by bracts; basal leaves few, linear; woods; fall [V Max Brown, 2007]
Little Lady's Tresses Spiranthes tuberosa Raf. Near Greers Ferry Lake, Cleburne County, Arkansas Notes: flowers irregular; white, sepals and lateral petals white, up to 5 mm long (small), lateral sepals free to near base and mostly parallel to flower, lip with irregular or toothed lip, no colored area on inside of lip; basal leaves elliptical, glabrous, not present at flowering; plant erect, up to 50 cm; often in forests, especially on acid substrates; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2014]
Spring [Grass- Leaved] Lady's Tresses Spiranthes vernalis Engelm. & Gray Cave City area, Stark County, Arkansas Notes: flowers in single spiral on stem, white, lateral sepals free and usually bent up, yellow on interior of flower; basal leaves linear; often in grassy areas; summer [V Max Brown, 2007]
[Crippled] Cranefly Orchid Tipularia discolor (Pursh) Nutt. Near Greers Ferry Lake, Cleburne County, Arkansas Notes: flower irregular sepals and lateral petals similar USDA (purplish), lip 3-lobed, with spur and white column, inflorescence a raceme with 20-40+ flowers; cauline leaves only reduced sheathing bracts; 1 basal leaf, up to 10+ cm, triangular to ovate, glabrous, on short (up to 4 cm) petiole, green above and purple below, occurs after flowering in fall; plant erect, up to 60+ cm; deep woods, usually on moist soils; mid to late summer [V Max Brown, 2014]
Soldier's [Lawn] Orchid Zeuxine strateumatica (L.) Schltr. Destin, Okaloosa County, Florida Notes: flowers white with yellow lip, fleshy, bracts green; leaves linear with sheathing base, spirally arranged on stem, usually erect, keeled; moist areas such as lawns, green houses, etc., weedy; fall and winter (sometimes spring) [V Max Brown, 2012]