Rose Pogonia

Notes:

While Pogonia ophioglossoides has a wide range of distribution in North America, being found in wet forest openings, meadows, and swampy areas of 33 states as well as all of the southeastern provinces in Canada, it is endangered or threatened in at least 7 of those states. Rose pogonia has rose-pink or white sepals and petals, which may more accurately be described as tepals. The outer three (sepals) appear to frame the inner three (petals). The top inner tepals shroud the lower tepal, which forms the fringed lip. Ophioglossoides come from the Greek for snake (ophis) and tongue (glossa), referring to a perceived similarity to the Adder’s Tongue Fern rather than to what may also seem like a similarity the flower may have to a snake’s mouth.