help IDing wild orchid

[kruskie]

Hello
I'm from Alaska and new to the orchid world. I love finding plants and IDing them. When I find a wild orchid in the AK I get real excited. Just recently I found this flower which looks like an orchid to me but not sure. Can anyone help me out?
Thanks
Kristin

[shadec]

are you sure its an orchid? it doesnt look like one to me, but it may well be
-J

[camille1585]

That looks like a white dog violet to me. Are the leaves heart shaped?

[ronaldhanko]

Most certainly a violet and not an orchid - no orchid like that grows in the US.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Not an orchid. Looks like viola.

You may encounter a wild orchid in Alaska called Cypripedium guttatum though.

[shadec]

sorry kruskie!
it is quite beautiful though
-J

[kruskie]

violet of course. Well it is better to know than not. Thanks for checking out my photo. I hope to find some real orchids soon. I'll be hunting around the AK this summer. I've been told 9 species have been sited here. I found a cypripedium guttatum patch last summer and I feel in love.
kristin

[Pantsonfire]

That is most certainly Viola macloskeyi, named for George Macloskey, professor of biology at Princeton (1874-1906). I've found it in Nevada and California in pine forests and wet grassy meadows.

[kruskie]

Thanks pantsonfire!
I think your absolutely right about this plant. It sure is a cute plant and I still like it even though it's not an orchid.

[Royal]

Definitely a nice find. Good luck this summer, be sure to post some picks if you see some Cyps.