1. Pogonia ophioglossoides (L.) Ker Gawl. (rose
pogonia, snake mouth)
Pl. 116 b, c; Map 480
Plants
with short rhizomes. Flowering stems 8–35 cm long, with 1 or 2 flowers at the
tip. Leaves 1 or 2, a leaflike bract also subtending each flower, green,
herbaceous, glabrous, the leaf near the middle of the flowering stem, 3–9 cm
long, sessile, lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, the basal leaf rarely produced,
8–15 cm long, petioled. Sepals 17–22 mm long, oblanceolate, pink. Lateral
petals 17–22 mm long, oblanceolate to elliptic, broader than the sepals, pink.
Lip 15–20 mm long oblanceolate, pink, the margins fringed, the middle of the
inner surface bearded with dense yellow hairs turning into a pink, fringed
crest near the tip. Column 8–10 mm long, pink. Stamen 1, staminodes lacking.
Capsules erect, 12–15 mm long, elliptic in outline, strongly ribbed. 2n=18.
June–July.
Known
only from single sites in Reynolds and Shannon Counties (eastern U.S. west to Texas, Canada). Restricted to fens, particularly in marly, flat areas.
This
rare orchid is pollinated by various bees and apparently deceives the insects:
the beard of yellow hairs on the lips mimics the appearance of stamens. The
flowers sometimes emit a delicate raspberry‑like fragrance. The species
apparently responds well to fire management of the fens in which it occurs. For
many years it was known from only a single site, until fen restoration by The
Nature Conservancy resulted in its appearance at the second station. It should
be searched for at other suitable sites in the area following prescribed burns.
It should be noted that elsewhere in its range, rose pogonia also occurs in
sandy, moist, acidic areas and bogs.