The last outing found another orchid in bloom, Listera, now Neottia cordata var. nephrophylla, the Western Heart-leaved Twayblade. We'll continue to see this species well into the summer but up in the mountains. These were found at the only low-elevation location we know for this area. They are the reddish form, fma. rubescens, and there were only six plants blooming at the location.
Neottia cordata var. nephrophylla fma. rubescens
Along with this species we found plenty of Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis, the Western Spotted Coralroot, including a few plants of the golden stemmed form, fma. aurea. Last year there were numerous plants of this form but this year only two. Coralroots are strange plants, appearing at a location and then disappearing for several years and then often in a different place.
Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis
Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis fma. aurea
There are still some Western Fairy Slippers, Calypso bulbosa var. occidentalis, blooming, but they are getting fewer and fewer at the low elevations and are not yet blooming at the higher elevations. We will probably see them again in the mountains in a few weeks. One of the white Fairy Slippers was still blooming, too, and this was is unique for its complete lack of any color.
Calypso bulbosa var. occidentalis
Calypso bulbosa var. occidentalis fma. nivea
8 comments:
Interesting. Do you think your eye is getting better at sorting nivea?
I think it is, though from a distance the niveas and the fading flowers still look a lot alike.
What wonders...! Here the cordata Neottia is a genuine rarity, untraceable and the same happens with the unique Corallorhiza (C. trifida). Calypso is not nearby. Congratulations to locate and photograph them and thanks for sharing them. Best regards
The Neottia is very common in some areas here. One of the trails we hike has thousands of them carpeting the ground, so many that it's impossible to walk without stepping on them. The Corallorhiza is also abundant where it grows but is not as common here as further north. We are going to go see the Corallorhiza Saturday near Mount Rainier.
Hi Ron,
I have some plants that come up on my land and I was wondering if you could identify them for me. They are not blooming yet but I came across your blog today. When they bloom I will post a photo.
Thanks, Laura
Would be happy to do so, Laura. Just let me know when you get photos of the flowers.
Hi Ron,
I was looking at your photos and I think it might be Epipactis helleborine. I will send a picture when it blooms.
Thanks,
Laura
That could very well be, Laura. It grows in nearly any conditions and all across the country. It should be blooming in July and August.
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