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• Aplectrum
• Aplectrum hyemale

Aplectrum hyemale — putty-root

Facts

Putty-root, although considered globally secure, is rare throughout much of its range, and very rare in New England. It has been collected in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont. The corms were used by the Cherokee as a dietary aid to "endow children with the gift of eloquence". The mucilaginous exudate of the crushed corms was also used by early settlers as a glue to repair pottery.

Habitat

Forests, swamps

Characteristics

• Flowers

  Flower bract length

  3–7 mm

  Flower petal color

  • brown
  • green
  • purple
  • red
  • yellow

  Flower symmetry

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

  Flowering date

  • June
  • May

  Flowers per inflorescence

  7–15

  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

  50–100 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 peduncle

  250–600 mm

  Lobes at base of lower petal

  0 mm

  Lower petal characteristics

  the labellum is lobed

  Lower petal length

  9–12 mm

  Lower petal outline

  the labellum is lobed but not fringed

  Lower petal strongly red-veined

  no

  Main color of lower petal

  • white
  • yellow

  Nectar spur

  there are no nectar spurs on the flower

  Nectar spur length

  0 mm

  Number of stamens

  1

  Orientation of side petals

  the lateral petals are vertically oriented or nearly so

  Self-pollinating flowers

  there are no cleistogamous flowers on this plant

  Sepal length

  10–15 mm

  Sepals fused only to sepals

  the sepals are separate from one another

  Spots on lower petal

  yes

  Spur opening membrane

  NA

  Spur opening shape

  NA

• Fruits or seeds

  Fruit length

  7–12 mm

  Seed capsule orientation

  the capsule bends downwards or hangs downwards

• 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
  • this plant has a rhizome (a horizontal underground stem with roots growing from it)

• Leaves

  Bract relative length

  the bract is shorter than the associated flower

  Features of leaves

  • the leaf is pleated or folded back and forth along its length
  • the underside of the leaf is strongly tinted with pink, red, purple or reddish brown

  Leaf arrangement

  basal: the leaves are growing only at the base of the plant

  Leaf blade edges

  the edges of the leaf blade have no teeth

  Leaf blade length

  100–200 mm

  Leaf blade length to width ratio

  2.5–3.3

  Leaf blade shape

  the leaf blade is elliptic (widest near the middle and tapering at both ends)

  Leaf blade tip

  • the tip of the leaf blade is acuminate (tapers to a long, thin point)
  • the tip of the leaf blade is acute (sharply pointed)

  Leaf blade width

  30–80 mm

  Leaves during flowering

  • there are leaves on the plant when it is flowering
  • there are no leaves on the plant when it is flowering

  Number of bracts on stem

  2–3

  Number of leaves on stem

  absent

• Place

  Habitat

  • terrestrial
  • wetlands

  New England state

  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts
  • Vermont

  Specific habitat

  • forests
  • 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