Bog Twayblade

(Liparis loeselii)

 

   

 

Color Photograph: NRCS Plants Database, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Bog Twayblade (Liparis loeselii [L.] L.C. Rich)

Identification: Flowers small, green. Lower petal large, banner-like, flanked by two descending, pointed "petals" on either side. Lateral petals elongate, threadlike. Upper "petal" narrow and elongate. Flowers arranged in a loose, terminal spike. Leaves confined to two, large, ovate-elongate basal leaves with strong keels. Plant 2 to 8 inches in height.

Distribution: Across southern Canada, southward in the west to Arkansas and in the east to North Carolina. The species is found as far south as Alabama in the mountains.Also occurs in the northwestern United States.

Habitat: Bog Twayblade is found in swamps, bogs, and wet meadows.

Flowering period: June to July.

Similar Species: The combination of the thread like lateral flower petals and the two large, basal leaves should easily identify this species. Threadlike lateral petals are also found in Green Adder's Mouth. However that specis has a single leaf located at about the midpoint of the stem.

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