Tags: Isotria verticillata Large whorled pogonia orchid wildflowers Olympus
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This is the remainder of my loooooooong day trip to north central Georgia mountains to botanize with my friends, Alan, Steve, and Max. We spent 16 hours either on the road or in the woods in the Chattahoochee National Forest. All in all, we had a very productive day...
This is undoubtedly the most rare of the orchids we saw on our trip in the mountains. It is so rare, that it is federally listed as an endangered species. At the location where we found this plant, there were only two other Isotria medeoloides plants (that we could find), and they were without flowers. Actually, this one did not have a flower either. What you see in the center of the whorl of leaves is a seed capsule. This is a very good sign, since it gives some hope for a future population of this orchid...
Tags: Chattahoochee National Forest Union County Georgia mountains Olympus E-5 Sigma 105mm wildflowers native orchids orchids Isotria medeoloides Small whorled pogonia orchid
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A couple of plants with seed capsules.
Isotria verticillata (Large whorled pogonia) has been reported from almost every state east of the Mississippi River. Having said that, it is quite scattered in its occurrence. It can be easily confused with another much more rare orchid species, Isotria medeoloides (Small whorled pogonia orchid), and the common Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber root). Each of these species have whorled leaves.
Recently, I was lucky enough to meet someone who knows of a large population of this orchid species relatively close to my home. This population is in an old cemetery, and appears to have been undisturbed for many years. As I write this, the flowers are in seed, and I can hardly wait until next spring when I can photograph this wonderful orchid in bloom...
Tags: Isotria verticillata Large whorled pogonia orchid orchid wildflowers Transylvania County North Carolina Brevard Olympus E-5 Sigma 105mm
© All Rights Reserved
Seed capsule.
Isotria verticillata (Large whorled pogonia) has been reported from almost every state east of the Mississippi River. Having said that, it is quite scattered in its occurrence. It can be easily confused with another much more rare orchid species, Isotria medeoloides (Small whorled pogonia orchid), and the common Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber root). Each of these species have whorled leaves.
Recently, I was lucky enough to meet someone who knows of a large population of this orchid species relatively close to my home. This population is in an old cemetery, and appears to have been undisturbed for many years. As I write this, the flowers are in seed, and I can hardly wait until next spring when I can photograph this wonderful orchid in bloom...
Tags: Isotria verticillata Large whorled pogonia orchid orchid wildflowers Transylvania County North Carolina Brevard Olympus E-5 Sigma 105mm
© All Rights Reserved
Seed capsule.
Isotria verticillata (Large whorled pogonia) has been reported from almost every state east of the Mississippi River. Having said that, it is quite scattered in its occurrence. It can be easily confused with another much more rare orchid species, Isotria medeoloides (Small whorled pogonia orchid), and the common Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber root). Each of these species have whorled leaves.
Recently, I was lucky enough to meet someone who knows of a large population of this orchid species relatively close to my home. This population is in an old cemetery, and appears to have been undisturbed for many years. As I write this, the flowers are in seed, and I can hardly wait until next spring when I can photograph this wonderful orchid in bloom...
Tags: Isotria verticillata Large whorled pogonia orchid orchid wildflowers Transylvania County North Carolina Brevard Olympus E-5 Sigma 105mm
© All Rights Reserved