Goodyera repens
(Linnaeus) R. Brown in Aiton var. repens Creeping Rattlesnake
Plantain
Lesser Rattlesnake Plantain
Location |
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories.
A well known European species ranging commonly in forests around the northern
hemisphere, but only at high elevations in the southern reaches.
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Specific Habitat |
Grows almost entirely in coniferous woods and bogs in cool, shaded soils.
It roots in moss and surface litter, often in dense shade at the bases
of trees.
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Flowering Season |
July and August.
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Description |
Height of flower scape 10 Ð 40 cm.
Stem pubescent, usually with a few tiny bracts.
Leaves: 6-8 in a basal rosette, evergreen, ovate to obovate, dark bluish
green.
Raceme densely flowered, cylindrical, flowers facing out on all sides.
Flowers nearly spherical when viewed from the side, all parts white, sometimes
with greenish tints. Petals and dorsal sepal form a hood over the lip,
lateral sepals curving towards the lip but with spreading tips. Lip narrowly
sacate, tip triangular and deeply downcurved.
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Comments |
Distinguished from var. ophioides by the solid colour of its leaves.
This solid green leaf form is more common in Eurasia; whereas, the tesselated
form of var. ophioides is more common in North America.
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References |
Orchids of the Western Great Lakes Region
The Native Orchids of the United States and Canada excluding Florida
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© Royal Botanical Gardens, Dr. Donald Gunn Image Collection.