Western Rattlesnake Plantain (Bruce Peninsula Orchids)

Western Rattlesnake Plantain

Goodyera oblongifolia

Summary ³

Goodyera oblongifolia is a species of orchid known by the common names western rattlesnake plantain and giant rattlesnake plantain. It is native to much of North America, particularly in the mountains of the western United States and Canada, from Alaska to northern Mexico, as well as in the Great Lakes region, Maine, Quebec and the Canadian Maritime Provinces.

Description ⁴

More info for the terms: capsule, forb

This description provides characteristics that may be relevant to fire ecology, and is not meant for identification. Keys for identification are available [30,41,42,49,50,81,85,100].

Western rattlesnake plantain is a native perennial, evergreen forb arising from short creeping rhizomes with fibrous roots. The persistent leaves are arranged in a basal rosette. They are thick, entire, and broadly lance-shaped, 1 to 4 inches (3-10 cm) long on winged petioles. The leaves have white mottling, especially along the mid-vein. There are 2 to 5 cauline leaves on the lower stem. The stems are stout and stiff, glandular pubescent, and have several small membranous bracts. They are 4 to 18 inches (10-45 cm) tall. The flowers are glandular pubescent and borne on a 1-sided or spiraled raceme up to 5 inches (12 cm) long. The petals and 1 of the sepals of the flower form a hood over the lip. There are as many as 30 flowers/raceme, but 10 to 15 are more common. The fruit is an erect, pubescent capsule about 0.4 inch (1 cm) long. Seeds are very small [1,27,49,64,76,77,96].