Isotria medeoloides Flowers

[ncorchid]

Attached is a find that I have to share. Isotria medeoloides is a rare orchid that is native to the eastern portion of the US & Canada. Colonies are small and double flowering plants are not unusual. This year one of the colonies in the Piedmont of NC had a triple flower! I have never seen another photo of one nor read about one in the literature. I would love to know if anyone is aware of another plant that had 3 flowers.

[RosieC]

I've not come across this one before. Thanks for sharing.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Is there a possibility of collecting a few of the pods and sending them to an orchid seed sowing lab for germination?

If so, I can give you a referral to a lab that I feel has a very high success rate with several different kinds of terrestrial orchid seed germination.

If there are other questions regarding proper seed collection, feel free to ask.

Maybe there can be an effort of in-situ and ex-situ conservation of this plant. Apparently it's so rare that it's in danger of extinction in many US states. And like you said each colony is also very small. It'd be a shame if this little guy went out over time, especially when it looks like it doesn't depend solely on mycorrhizal fungi for it's source of nutrition and energy. Idk, just food for thought.

[ncorchid]

Thanks for your offer Philip. As a matter of fact we are working with the Smithsonian with a pod from the prior year, and they have germinated seedlings. Time will tell if we can get them into the ground.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Oh...okay! Well that's good!