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• Coeloglossum viride

Coeloglossum viride — long-bracted green orchid

Facts

Long-bracted green orchid inhabits a range of mesic to wet-mesic habitats in all New England states. This is one of the most common orchids in terms of its worldwide distribution. The Ojibwa considered this plant a love charm, varieties of mischief ensuing.

Habitat

Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), fens, forests, meadows and fields, swamps

Characteristics

• Flowers

  Flower petal color

  green

  Flower symmetry

  there is only one way to evenly divide the flower (the flower is bilaterally symmetrical)

  Flowering date

  • August
  • July
  • June
  • May
  • September

  Flowers per inflorescence

  At least 5

  Form of lower petal

  the labellum does not have a pouch-like shape

  Hairs on inflorescence axis

  the main stem of the inflorescence is hairless

  Inflorescence length

  50–200 mm

  Inflorescence type

  the inflorescence is a raceme (a long unbranched stem with stalked flowers growing along it)

  Labellum position

  the labellum is in the lower position on the flower

  Length of narrowed base of lower petal

  0 mm

  Lobes at base of lower petal

  0 mm

  Lower petal characteristics

  • the labellum has spurs on it
  • the labellum is lobed

  Lower petal length

  3–10 mm

  Lower petal outline

  the labellum is lobed but not fringed

  Lower petal strongly red-veined

  no

  Main color of lower petal

  • blue to purple
  • green to brown

  Nectar spur

  the flower has at least one nectar spur on it

  Nectar spur length

  2–3 mm

  Number of stamens

  1

  Orientation of side petals

  the lateral petals are angled steeply upwards

  Self-pollinating flowers

  there are no cleistogamous flowers on this plant

  Sepal length

  3–8 mm

  Spots on lower petal

  no

  Spur opening membrane

  the spur opening is at least partially covered with a membrane

• Fruits or seeds

  Fruit length

  7–14 mm

  Fruit width

  4–5 mm

  Seed capsule orientation

  the capsule points upwards or is angled outwards

• Growth form

  Plant green or not

  the plant is chlorophyllous (it has green parts)

  Roots

  the rhizomes do not resemble coral

  Underground organs

  • the plant has one or more swollen storage organs underground, such as bulbs, tubers or corms
  • there are only slender roots on the plant

• Leaves

  Bract relative length

  the bract is longer than the associated flower

  Features of leaves

  the leaf does not have any of the mentioned special features

  Leaf arrangement

  alternate: there is one leaf per node along the stem

  Leaf blade edges

  the edges of the leaf blade have no teeth

  Leaf blade length

  20–180 mm

  Leaf blade length to width ratio

  2–2.6

  Leaf blade shape

  • the leaf blade is lanceolate (lance-shaped; widest below the middle and tapering at both ends)
  • the leaf blade is oblanceolate (lance-shaped, but with the widest point above the middle of the leaf blade)
  • the leaf blade is obovate (egg-shaped, but with the widest point above the middle of the leaf blade)

  Leaf blade tip

  • the tip of the leaf blade is acute (sharply pointed)
  • the tip of the leaf blade is obtuse (bluntly pointed)

  Leaf blade width

  10–70 mm

  Leaves during flowering

  there are leaves on the plant when it is flowering

  Number of bracts on stem

  0

  Number of leaves on stem

  • five
  • four
  • three
  • two

• Place

  Habitat

  • terrestrial
  • wetlands

  New England state

  • Connecticut
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont

  Specific habitat

  • fens
  • forests
  • man-made or disturbed habitats
  • meadows or fields
  • swamps

Wetland status

Occurs in wetlands or non-wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FAC)

New England distribution and conservation status

From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae