Bracted Green Orchid
Dactylorhiza viridis (dak-ty-lor-RY-zuh VEER-ih-diss veer-ES-enz)
Long-bract frog orchid is an erect, native, flowering perennial found in the United States, Canada, China, Japan, and Korea. This orchid grows in coniferous and hardwood forests, tundra, prairies, meadows, thickets, coastal heaths, and bogs in shallow, moist areas that are wet in springtime. This plant grows 4 to 20 inches tall, has a smooth green stem and fleshy roots. Its leaves are green, obovate to lanceolate, and the flowers are displayed as green, spike-like, terminal racemes. It is a member of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). The genus name, Dactylorhiza , is derived from two Greek words: dactyl , meaning "finger," and rhiza, meaning "root." This refers to the plant's root system, which looks like finger-like tubers. The specific epithet, viridis , is Latin for "green." The variation name, virescens , means "becoming green." Prefers partial shade, moist soils, and cool temperatures of coniferous forests. It is thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 7, and may be found in the higher elevations of North Carolina. This is an unusual orchid, but it can be easily recognized by its long, green, sharp, pointed bracts at the base of each flower. Its flower also has a long, lower lip with a small central lobe and two other more prominent lobes, and a pouch-like spur at the base of the lower lip. It is not recommended for home landscapes and is extremely rare in North Carolina. It is also reportedly rare in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Unknown
Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 46 attributes.
How it fits the guild