Isotria verticillata (Large Whorled Pogonia)

https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/main.php?pg=show-taxon-detail.php&lsid=urn:lsid:ncbg.unc.edu:taxon:{6D49B912-F530-40CE-BA41-0D7878F48913}

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ORCHIDACEAE

Isotria verticillata (Muhlenberg ex Willdenow) Rafinesque. Common name: Large Whorled Pogonia, Large Five-leaves. Phenology: Mar-Jul; Apr-Oct. Habitat: Acidic, mesic to dry forests, less typically seeps and bogs. Distribution: ME and MI south to Panhandle FL and e. TX.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = AqW, Ar, C, Can, ETx1, F, FNA26, G, Il, K4, Mi, Mo1, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WV, Correll (1950), Luer (1975); = Pogonia verticillata (Muhl. ex Willd.) Nutt. — WH3; Arethusa verticillata Muhlenberg ex Willdenow. Basionym: Arethusa verticillata Muhl. ex Willd. 1805

Links to other floras: = Isotria verticillata - FNA26

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Wetland Indicator Status:

Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
Great Plains: FAC
Midwest: FAC
Northcentral & Northeast: FAC

Heliophily ⓘ: 2

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Horticultural Information

Intro: Erect perennial of acidic, moist-to-dry forests.

Stems: Stem hollow, unbranched, purplish to reddish-brown, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves 5-6 in a whorl at top of stem where flowering stalk begins, oval to oblong-lance-shaped, to 3 in. long (enlarging as fruit develops).

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers (1, rarely 2) on stalk emerging from center of leaf whorl, to 2 in. wide and bilaterally symmetric. Each flower consists of 3 widely spreading, purplish-green, linear sepals (1â…“--2 â…“ in. long), 2 yellowish-green petals forming a small hood, and a white to yellowish, down-curved lip-petal bearing a fleshy ridge in the middle and purple streaks on lateral lobes.

Fruits: Fruit an erect, ribbed, elliptical capsule.

Comments: Nonflowering plants could be confused with Medeola virginiana, but the latter has a wiry stem covered with long hairs (at least at the base).

Height: 7-13 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect perennial of acidic, moist-to-dry forests.

stems: Stem hollow, unbranched, purplish to reddish-brown, smooth.

leaves: Leaves 5-6 in a whorl at top of stem where flowering stalk begins, oval to oblong-lance-shaped, to 3 in. long (enlarging as fruit develops).

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers (1, rarely 2) on stalk emerging from center of leaf whorl, to 2 in. wide and bilaterally symmetric. Each flower consists of 3 widely spreading, purplish-green, linear sepals (1â…“--2 â…“ in. long), 2 yellowish-green petals forming a small hood, and a white to yellowish, down-curved lip-petal bearing a fleshy ridge in the middle and purple streaks on lateral lobes.

fruits: Fruit an erect, ribbed, elliptical capsule.

comments: Nonflowering plants could be confused with Medeola virginiana, but the latter has a wiry stem covered with long hairs (at least at the base).

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range:

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Horticultural Information