Northeast Wetland Flora
Field Office Guide to Plant Species
Isotria medeoloides (Pursh) Raf.
- Family: Orchid (Orchidaceae)
- Flowering: May-July
- Field Marks: This small orchid is distinguished by its whorl of leaves and its 1-2 flowers with a pale green lip.
- Habitat: Dry woods.
- Habit: Perennial herb with cord-like roots.
- Stems: Upright, unbranched, up to 4 inches tall.
- Leaves: 3-5 in a single whorl, elliptic, up to 2 1/2 inches long, smooth.
- Flowers: 1-2 on short upright stalks, up to 1 1/2 inches long.
- Sepals: 3, arching, very narrow, up to 1 inch long, greenish yellow.
- Petals: 3, unequal, the 2 lateral ones narrow, greenish yellow, shorter than the sepals; lip petal 3-lobed, pale green, shorter than the sepals.
- Stamens: 1.
- Pistils: Ovary inferior.
- Fruits: Capsule elongated, up to 1 inch long, a little longer than its stalk.
- Notes: This is a Federally endangered species.
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