Tipularia discolor
| Crane-fly Orchid | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Tribe: | Calypsoeae |
| Genus: | Tipularia |
| Species: | T. discolor |
| Binomial name | |
| Tipularia discolor (Pursh) Nuttall |
|
The Crane-fly Orchid (Tipularia discolor) is a perennial terrestrial woodland orchid, a member of the Orchidaceae. It is the only species of the genus Tipularia found in North America. This orchid grows a single leaf in September that disappears in the spring. The leaf is green with dark purple spots. The orchid blooms in mid-July to late August. The roots are a connected series of corms. Its roots are edible. They are starchy and almost potato-like.
The plant is pollinated by noctuid moths, by means of flowers which incline slightly to the right or left, so the pollinaria can attach to one of the moth's eyes.[1]
-
Growing in large clonal group
-
Tipularia discolor colony, with seed pods, Florida, February.
-
Underside of leaf is always purple
-
-
Seed pods
-
Broken seed pod with micrograph of seed insert.
Cranefly orchids are endangered, threatened, or rare in several states.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ "Tipularia discolor". Flora of North America. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=220013573.
- ^ Tipularia discolor (Pursh) Nutt., USDA PLANTS
- Homoya, Michael A.. Orchids of Indiana. Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-32864-0.
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tipularia discolor |
| This Epidendroideae-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
