Triphora trianthophora — three-birds orchid
![Plant form: Triphora trianthophora. ~ By Charles Grunden. ~ Copyright © 2024 Charles Grunden. ~ cagrunden[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Orchidaceae/triphora-trianthophora-ha-cgrunden.jpg)
![Flowers: Triphora trianthophora. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Orchidaceae/triphora-trianthophora-fl-ahaines-b.jpg)
![Inflorescences: Triphora trianthophora. ~ By Gordon Morrison. ~ Copyright © 2024 New England Wild Flower Society. ~ Image Request, images[at]newenglandwild.org](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Orchidaceae/triphora-trianthophora-in-gmorrison.jpg)
![Plant form: Triphora trianthophora. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Orchidaceae/triphora-trianthophora-ha-ahaines-a.jpg)
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Facts
Three-birds orchid is threatened in New England, and rare or threatened throughout much of its range in North America. It typically occurs in moist beech (Fagus grandifolia) forests, in hollows with deep leaf litter and in the absence of competing herbaceous plants. It is thought to be semi-saprophytic (dependant on decaying organic matter for carbon and nutrients). It flowers sporadically and may persist as subterranean tuberoids for long periods, complicating census and conservation efforts.
Habitat
Forests
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
Found this plant? Take a photo and post a sighting.
enlargeCharacteristics
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Leaf arrangement
- alternate: there is one leaf per node along the stem
- Number of leaves on stem
-
- five
- four
- six or more
- three
- two
- Form of lower petal
- the labellum does not have a pouch-like shape
- Lower petal outline
- the labellum is lobed but not fringed
- Main color of lower petal
-
- green to brown
- pink to red
- white
- Nectar spur
- there are no nectar spurs on the flower
- Inflorescence type
-
- the inflorescence has only one flower or a pair of flowers on it
- the inflorescence is a raceme (a long unbranched stem with stalked flowers growing along it)
- Lower petal characteristics
- the labellum is lobed
- Lower petal length
- 8–20 mm
- Sepal length
- 11–15 mm
-
Flowers
- Flower petal color
-
- pink
- white
- Flower symmetry
- there is only one way to evenly divide the flower (the flower is bilaterally symmetrical)
- Flowering date
-
- August
- September
- Flowers per inflorescence
- 1–20
- 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
- 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
- Lobes at base of lower petal
- 0 mm
- Lower petal characteristics
- the labellum is lobed
- Lower petal length
- 8–20 mm
- Lower petal outline
- the labellum is lobed but not fringed
- Lower petal strongly red-veined
- no
- Main color of lower petal
-
- green to brown
- pink to red
- white
- 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 angled steeply upwards
- Self-pollinating flowers
- there are no cleistogamous flowers on this plant
- Sepal length
- 11–15 mm
- Sepals fused only to sepals
- the sepals are separate from one another
- Spots on lower petal
- no
- Spur opening membrane
- NA
- Spur opening shape
- NA
-
Fruits or seeds
- Fruit length
- 10–15 mm
- Fruit width
- 5–10 mm
- Seed capsule orientation
-
- the capsule bends downwards or hangs downwards
- 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 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
- 6–20 mm
- Leaf blade shape
- 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 acuminate (tapers to a long, thin point)
- the tip of the leaf blade is acute (sharply pointed)
- the tip of the leaf blade is obtuse (bluntly pointed)
- 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
- six or more
- three
- two
-
Place
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Specific habitat
- forests
Wetland status
Usually occurs in non-wetlands, but occasionally in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FACU)
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present
- Maine
- present
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- present
- Rhode Island
- absent
- Vermont
- present
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Connecticut
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1), endangered (code: E)
- Maine
- rare (S-rank: S2), threatened (code: T)
- New Hampshire
- rare (S-rank: S2), threatened (code: T)
- Vermont
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1), threatened (code: T)
ssp. trianthophora
- Massachusetts
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1), endangered (code: E)
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
1. Triphora trianthophora (Sw.) Rydb. ssp. trianthophora NC
three-birds orchid. Arethusa trianthophora Sw.; Pogonia trianthophora B.S.P. • CT, MA, ME, NH, VT. Deciduous forests, usually in association with Fagus grandifolia on slopes and benches in hilly terrain.
Native to North America?
Yes
Sometimes confused with
- Pogonia ophioglossoides:
- flowers solitary or paired, subtended by rather inconspicuous, usually scale-like bracts, and labellum lacking 3 parallel, green ridges (vs. T. trianthophora, with flowers usually 3-6 per stem, subtended by foliaceous, ovate bracts, and labellum ornamented with 3 parallel, green, papillose ridges).
Synonyms
- Arethusa trianthophora Sw.
- Pogonia trianthophora B.S.P.