Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Bruce Peninsula Orchids)

Downy Rattlesnake Plantain

Goodyera pubescens

Summary ³

Goodyera pubescens, the downy rattlesnake plantain, is one of the most common orchids native to eastern North America. It is found from Florida to Nova Scotia, west to eastern Oklahoma, Minnesota and Ontario.

Description ⁴

This small perennial orchid produces a low rosette of evergreen basal leaves. Individual leaves are 1½-2½" long and ¾-1½" across; they are ovate or broadly elliptic and smooth along their margins. There are 5-7 primary veins per leaf; they are parallel. These veins are interconnected through a network of secondary veins. Both the primary and secondary veins are accented in white, while the remaining leaf surface is dark green. The basal leaves taper abruptly to petiole-like bases that are short and winged, where they are also accented in white along their central veins. After several years, a spike-like raceme of flowers develops from the basal rosette that is 4-14" tall and more or less erect. The central stalk of this inflorescence is light green, glandular-pubescent, and terete. Along the lower two-thirds of its length, there are widely separated leafy bracts. These bracts are small in size (about ½" in length), linear-lanceolate in shape, and ascending to erect. Along the upper one-third of the central stalk, the small flowers are densely distributed, facing in all directions. The sepals and petals of these flowers (3 of each per flower) are white or greenish white, while their inferior ovaries are green and glandular-pubescent. The upper sepal and 2 lateral petals of each flower are merged together to form a hood with a slightly upturned outer rim, while the 2 lateral sepals are free and the lower petal forms an open pouch with a minute down-turned beak. These petals and sepals are 3.5-5.5 mm. long; the outer surfaces of the hood and lateral sepals are minutely pubescent. The ovaries are 6-8 mm. long, ellipsoid in shape, and ascending. At the bases of the ovaries, there are ascending floral bracts. These bracts are green, glandular-pubescent, linear-lanceolate in shape, and ascending; they are about the same length as the ovaries. The blooming period occurs during mid- to late summer, lasting about 3-4 weeks. There is no noticeable floral fragrance. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by seed capsules that become ovoid in shape and brown at maturity. At this time, these capsules split open into several sections to release their minute seeds to the wind. The root system consists of a shallow creeping rhizome with coarse fibrous roots. After flowering, this rhizome forms 1-3 clonal offsets. The clonal offsets become independent on their rhizomes, while the original rhizome dies. The evergreen basal leaves persist for at least 1½ years (at least 2 summers and 1 winter).

Sources and Credits

(c) Distant Hill Gardens, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/59898141@N06/11449091464/
(c) Johnny Wilson, all rights reserved, uploaded by Johnny Wilson
Adapted by bpff from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodyera_pubescens
(c) John Hilty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/29445302

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