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Project Noah Nature School
Tipularia discolor
This is a nice large colony of one of our abundant but over-looked native orchids. I'm on a mission to catch this species while it's blooming this year! Sadly, I saw no seed pods which would give me hope to catch them blooming at this location. It may mean hikers have picked the flowers as this is a highly trafficked area. Why am I keeping an eye out for leaves at this time of year? Answer: The leaves will disappear completely before these begin to bloom.
This orchid is found in moist humus-rich soils of deciduous forest of SE United States along slopes and stream terraces, and in areas with acid soils, such as oak-pine forests.
Spotted along the Iron Hill Trail of Red Top Mountain State Park. Its roots are edible. They are starchy and almost potato-like.
Spotted on Feb 8, 2014
Submitted on Mar 1, 2014
2 Comments
Same here drP! I see the leaves all the time, but I can't remember once ever seeing the flowers. I struck out last year. Here's hoping this is the year!
I am also on the look out for Putty Root / Adam and Eve orchid which is similar in appearance but not purple under the leaves. It should be blooming soon, so wish me luck!
I hope you see the flowers! I've seen the leaves for years, but have only recently seen the flowers. They're beautiful, but inconspicuous even when you're looking for them (or at least when I'm looking for them). I'd spot one flowering plant then notice that it was part of a whole patch that I'd almost overlooked.