Wild Orchid?

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by link2007, Jul 16, 2007.

  1. link2007

    link2007 Active Member

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    Are these wild orchids? They had no green leaves.
     

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  2. David in L A

    David in L A Active Member 10 Years

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  3. photopro

    photopro Well-Known Member

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    Not likely. All orchids have three petals and three sepals. The petals sit forward of the sepals. Most people would call all "petals", but technically they are not. In most cases one of the petals is considered a "runway" and is not shaped like the other two petals. It is often at the bottom, but can sometimes be located near the top.

    Wild orchids do occur in the United States but all orchids still have the features described. I'm including a photo so you can see what I'm describing.

    As you can see, the top portion is a sepal and is called the "dorsal" sepal. It sits just behind the top two petals. The "runway" is at the bottom and is also forwards. That too is a petal. The other two sepals are situated just behind the "runway" to the left and right at the bottom.

    Now, just to not make this terribly confusing, Lady Slipper orchids have two of their sepals fused together. As a result, they only appear to have a single lower sepal, but in fact are considered two by botanists. Many people ask why Lady Slippers only have 3 petals and two sepals, the answer is simply the lower pair is fused.
     

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  4. smivies

    smivies Active Member

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    Not likely to be an orchid, the anthers are visible on the stamens....not something you see in an orchid flower.

    Could it be the saprophytic Allotropa virgata?
     
  5. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Doesn't look much like the BPOTD pic of Allotropa virgata from a while back:
    http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/potd/2005/12/allotropa_virgata_1.php

    I don't know of any Pyrola with no leaves, but the flowers certainly look good for that genus. Pyrola usually have a basal rosette of leaves on the ground - could there be some leaves which have got buried under leaf litter?
     
  6. David in L A

    David in L A Active Member 10 Years

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    Pyrola picta f. aphylla?
     
  7. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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  8. link2007

    link2007 Active Member

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    The picture of Pyrola picta f. aphylla looks almost identical to it. Thanks!
     

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