Yard Orchids 2020

[Afid]

I just spotted the first Platanthera unalascensis coming up in my yard and though this would be a fun thread. I will add more photos as they progress and more orchids appear!
Hopefully the snow will melt soon so I can get some photos of the Goodyera oblongifolia and Calypso bulbosa too!

[Connie Star]

Great sign of spring!

[Afid]

I just went out to check on them again, it has made a lot of progress! Most of the snow has melted now so I should start seeing some other species soon as well.

[DirtyCoconuts]

YES!! i am excited for this thread!!!

[Afid]

I will try to get out and take pictures of the other ones that are up later today.

[Afid]

Here are some more pics!
Calypso bulbosa var. americana (just starting to develop a spike)
Goodyera oblongifolia
Here is a mutant form of Goodyera oblongifolia with variegated leaves.

Still no sign of any Corallorrhiza species or the Dactylorhiza viridis, but it won't be long before they start to show up.

[neophyte]

super cool!

---------- Post added at 10:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 PM ----------

I have a couple questions - first, are all these terrestrials perennials or do some only survive for a couple years? I remember reading somewhere that Calypso only lasts for a few years, but that could be false information. Also, do you mark out your finds so you can more easily find them the next year?

It would be neat if you selfed the variegated G. oblongifolia and see if the pattern shows up in at least some of the offspring, too. That would be fun.

[Afid]

They certainly seem to last a pretty long time. The Goodyera will spread a lot as it gets older, individual rosettes only last a few years but they can grow into massive colonies (I will try to get a picture of one soon). The Corallorhiza species are much the same, they can live for a very long time (some species can go dormant underground for nearly 10 years at a time). Platanthera unalascensis Calypso bulbosa and Dactylorhiza virides are pretty slow growing, and usually only have one growth at a time, but they will spread eventually, usually by putting off an extra shoot during the growing season which eventually becomes a separate plant as the old growth dies off. As far as Calypso bulbosa only living a few years, I suspect that is a myth, I have encountered several large specimens that would have to be pretty old. One striking example of this is this Calypso bulbosa nothovar. kostiukiae (the natural hybrid between the eastern and western varieties). I am fairly certain it is one large colony that spread vegetatively from one plant, as it would be highly unusual for so many plants of a natural hybrid to all grow in one place, especially with so little variation between flowers. I expect it would take at least 15-20 years to grow to this size.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Amazing stuff. Thank you!

[SouthPark]

I would love to just live next door to those Calypso bulbosa nothovar. kostiukiae. They are so cute.