Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains
69. Orchidaceae, the Orchid Family
3. Liparis Rich. -- Twayblade1. Liparis loeselii (L.) Rich.
Small, erect, glabrous plant 1-2.5 dm tall, arising from a solid bulb. Foliage leaves consisting of a pair of basal leaves, ascending, sheathing at the base, shiny, elliptic to lanceolate, 5-15 cm long, 1.5-3 cm wide, obtuse to rounded, subtended below by 1-few basal scale leaves. Flowers 2-12, yellowish-green, small, erect, in an open bracteate raceme 2-8 cm long, the bracts minute; sepals narrowly lanceolate and spreading, 4-6 mm long; lateral petals linear, often twisted and bent forward under the lip, 3-5 mm long; lip dilated above the narrow base, decurved, 4-5 mm long; anther 1, terminal on the broad-based, winged column. Capsules persistent, short-cylindric, 7-11 mm long. Late Jun--Jul. Swampy woods, fens and boggy places; rare in c and ne ND and nc NE; (N.S. and Que. to Man., s to NJ, OH, AL, and NE, sporadically w to WA).
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