Pogonia ophioglossoides — rose pogonia

Characteristics

• Flowers

  Flower bract length

  7–37 mm

  Flower petal color

  • blue
  • pink
  • white

  Flower symmetry

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

  Flowering date

  • August
  • July
  • June

  Flowers per inflorescence

  1–2

  Form of lower petal

  the labellum does not have a pouch-like shape

  Hairs on inflorescence axis

  • NA
  • the main stem of the inflorescence is hairless

  Inflorescence type

  the inflorescence has only one flower or a pair of flowers on it

  Labellum position

  the labellum is in the lower position on the flower

  Length of narrowed base of lower petal

  0 mm

  Lower petal characteristics

  • the labellum is fringed
  • the labellum is simple in form

  Lower petal length

  12–25 mm

  Lower petal outline

  the labellum is fringed (it may or may not be lobed)

  Lower petal strongly red-veined

  yes

  Main color of lower petal

  • green to brown
  • pink to red
  • 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 slant outward

  Pollen sacs

  the pollinia remain intact and do not fragment into smaller parts

  Self-pollinating flowers

  there are no cleistogamous flowers on this plant

  Sepal length

  14–23 mm

  Sepals fused only to sepals

  the sepals are separate from one another

  Shape of viscidium

  NA

  Spots on lower petal

  no

  Spur opening membrane

  NA

  Spur opening shape

  NA

• Fruits or seeds

  Fruit length

  14–30 mm

  Fruit width

  4–8 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

  • 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 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

  14–120 mm

  Leaf blade length to width ratio

  3.5–3.8

  Leaf blade shape

  • the leaf blade is elliptic (widest near the middle and tapering at both ends)
  • the leaf blade is lanceolate (lance-shaped; widest below the middle and tapering at both ends)
  • the leaf blade is oblong (rectangular but with rounded ends)
  • the leaf blade is ovate (widest below the middle and broadly tapering at both ends)

  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

  4–32 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

  one

• Place

  Habitat

  wetlands

  New England state

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

  Specific habitat

  • bogs
  • edges of wetlands
  • fens
  • man-made or disturbed habitats
  • meadows or fields

Wetland status

Occurs only in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: OBL)

In New England

From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key