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Pogonia ophioglossoides — rose pogonia

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Facts

Rose pogonia is found over an unusually broad temperature range, from northern Canada to southern Florida. It is a distinctive orchid, with a pink flower and a single clasping leaf half way up the stem. The specific name (ophioglossoides) refers to the fact that Adder's tongue ferns (Ophioglossum), have a similar single leaf half way up the stem. The two unrelated plants also share similar habitat requirements.

Habitat

Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), bogs, fens (calcium-rich wetlands), meadows and fields, wetland margins (edges of wetlands)

New England distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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North America distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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Characteristics

Habitat
wetlands
New England state
  • Connecticut
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
Leaf arrangement
alternate: there is one leaf per node along the stem
Number of leaves on stem
one
Form of lower petal
the labellum does not have a pouch-like shape
Lower petal outline
the labellum is fringed (it may or may not be lobed)
Main color of lower petal
  • green to brown
  • pink to red
  • white
  • yellow
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
Lower petal characteristics
  • the labellum is fringed
  • the labellum is simple in form
Lower petal length
12–25 mm
Sepal length
14–23 mm
Show all 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 (calcium-rich wetlands)
    • man-made or disturbed habitats
    • meadows or fields

Wetland status

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

In New England

Distribution

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

Conservation status

Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.

Massachusetts
unranked (S-rank: SNR)
Vermont
uncommon (S-rank: S3)

From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key

1.  Pogonia ophioglossoides (L.) Ker-Gawl. N

rose pogonia. Pogonia ophioglossoides (L.) Ker-Gawl. var. brachypogon Fern. • CT, MA, ME, 
 NH, RI, VT. Fens, bogs, sandy meadows, ditches.

Native to North America?

Yes

Sometimes confused with

Calopogon tuberosus:
modified petal (the labellum) uppermost, with a brush of fine yellow hairs, and leaf blades mostly linear to lanceolate (vs. P. ophioglossoides, with the modified petal (the labellum) lowermost, ornimented, but without a brush of fine yellow hairs, and leaf blades mostly oblanceolate to elliptic).

Synonyms

  • Pogonia ophioglossoides var. brachypogon Fern.

Family

Orchidaceae

Genus

Pogonia