Friday, November 5, 2010

Fen Orchis (Liparis loeselii)

Liparis loeselii, the Fen Orchis or Loesel's Twayblade, is rather widespread in range.  It is found both in Europe and in North America and is reported to be common in the eastern areas of the United States and Canada.  It is rare, however, in the west, having been recently found for the first time in Alberta, where these photos were taken, and with no known locations in Washington, though it has been reported from the state.










It is a small species, not taller than 20 cm and often much shorter with two leaves at the base of the plant and a dozen or fewer flowers about 1 cm in size.  The flowers are pale yellowish-green and grow among sedges and other wetland plants which makes them even more difficult to find.  These were photographed growing in full sun in a very wet fen and were scattered individually over a fairly large area but only in one location in the fen which was very large.


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6 comments:

Unknown said...

Com suas belas fotos, conseguimos ver bem a beleza dela.
abraços

Ron said...

Thanks for your comments, Elisabete. They are valued always. I always wish when I see these native orchids that I had more opportunity to show them to others.

Angel Mar said...

Original and beautiful miniatures, thanks for sharing them Ron

Ron said...

Thanks ever so much for your kind comments, my friend.

Random Treelore said...

What a cool little species! Since I spent a little time in fens in northern WA, I will have to keep an eye out!

Ron said...

If you find this species in Washington you will be famous in the native orchid world. It is really small, and when we found it this summer in Alberta we were standing in a foot of water to photograph it, but you know what fens are like.