Aplectrum hyemale (Muhlenberg ex Willdenow) Torrey. Common name: Puttyroot, Adam-and-Eve. Phenology: May-Jun. Habitat: Rich, mesic forests. Distribution: QC and MN, south to SC, GA, n. AL, AR, and OK. We find no documentation for a report for s. AL (Conecuh County) (Kartesz 2022).
ID notes: Aplectrum leaf blades are narrowly elliptic, 10-20 cm long, the blade > 2x as long as wide, tapering to both ends, and notably plicate along the very prominent, white, cartilaginous veins (vs. Tipularia, with leaf blades ovate, < 10 cm long, < 2× as long as wide, truncate to cordate at the base, acute-apiculate at the apex, and not notably plicate along the veins).
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, F, FNA26, G, GW1, Il, K4, Mi, Mo1, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, Correll (1950), Luer (1972). Basionym: Cymbidium hyemale Muhl. ex Willd. 1805
Links to other floras: = Aplectrum hyemale - FNA26
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
- Great Plains: FAC
- Midwest: FAC
- Northcentral & Northeast: FAC
Heliophily ⓘ: 2
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© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial found in rich, moist forests.
Stems: Stem a stout, pale green to purple-green, leafless (except for some tiny bracts) flowering stalk, emerging in spring separately from the autumn-winter leaves.
Leaves: Leaves 1 per plant, emerging in fall and lying on ground; oval, to 8 in. long, bluish-green with raised, white, parallel lines; withers by spring.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers (3-15) arranged in a loose raceme topping the scape; greenish-yellow with magenta highlights, 3/4-1 in. long, bilaterally symmetric and consisting of 3 narrowly oblong-lance-shaped sepals and 3 central unequal petals, 2 of which form a "hood" over the reproductive parts, and the bottom one forming a scallop-edged, white and pink lip.
Fruits:
Comments: Fruit an ellipsoid capsule.
Height: 8-20 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial found in rich, moist forests.
stems: Stem a stout, pale green to purple-green, leafless (except for some tiny bracts) flowering stalk, emerging in spring separately from the autumn-winter leaves.
leaves: Leaves 1 per plant, emerging in fall and lying on ground; oval, to 8 in. long, bluish-green with raised, white, parallel lines; withers by spring.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers (3-15) arranged in a loose raceme topping the scape; greenish-yellow with magenta highlights, 3/4-1 in. long, bilaterally symmetric and consisting of 3 narrowly oblong-lance-shaped sepals and 3 central unequal petals, 2 of which form a "hood" over the reproductive parts, and the bottom one forming a scallop-edged, white and pink lip.
fruits:
comments: Fruit an ellipsoid capsule.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America
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