The First Native Orchids of the Year!!!!

[Goods14]

Ron, do you know if this plant is found in cultivation at all? This is a very interesting little species that I would like to try growing if some captive bred (not wild collected) plants are available from someone.

[ronaldhanko]

I know of no one who has been able to cultivate it other than by lifting whole sections of ground and transporting them to a location in another wooded area. There is someone on Ebay who sells seeds, but it is one of those natives that seems to resist every effort at cultivation.

[Goods14]

Do you think there could be a symbiotic relationship with a microorganism that is only found in this plant's range?

The only other thing I could think of is some exact soil chemistry, but it would seem that someone could replicate the conditions fairly well.

[ronaldhanko]

I suspect (1) that there is a symbiotic relationship since large sections of ground often do transplant and establish, and (2) that it is very fussy about conditions. When we see it, it will be growing rather profusely in one area and not in another nearby where conditions appear to the eye to be exactly the same.

[greenbean]

Thank you for posting that link! You took so many beautiful pictures of this wonderful orchid!

It's one of my favorites and I don't think I'll get any other chances to see it this year as I won't be home long enough to go on any hikes this spring or summer.

On a side note, do you know the species of Erythronium that you have in those photos? I've never seen one of the native species with leaves quite like that.

[Goods14]

I have been researching since I asked about this earlier. It seems there is definitely a symbiont fungus when the seed is germinating, as in other orchids. There is also thought that the symbiosis remains into the plant's adulthood, but I couldn't find confirmed evidence of this. The person you said was selling seeds I believe is the same person who has put a large effort into trying to cultivate this species. They mentioned that specific leaves may be necessary to grow this (maybe for the specific fungus?). It seems like there is a need for more work to be done with this species before any culture method is understood.

[ronaldhanko]

Originally Posted by greenbean

Thank you for posting that link! You took so many beautiful pictures of this wonderful orchid!

It's one of my favorites and I don't think I'll get any other chances to see it this year as I won't be home long enough to go on any hikes this spring or summer.

On a side note, do you know the species of Erythronium that you have in those photos? I've never seen one of the native species with leaves quite like that.

Sorry to hear that you won't get to see the Calypsos this year. Spring isn't quite the same without them. The Erythronium is oregonum, the Oregon Fawn Lily. It grows all up and down the coast from N. California into BC, but does not always have the brown markings around the base of the flower. I have pictures of them totally without the markings.

[ronaldhanko]

Originally Posted by Goods14

I have been researching since I asked about this earlier. It seems there is definitely a symbiont fungus when the seed is germinating, as in other orchids. There is also thought that the symbiosis remains into the plant's adulthood, but I couldn't find confirmed evidence of this. The person you said was selling seeds I believe is the same person who has put a large effort into trying to cultivate this species. They mentioned that specific leaves may be necessary to grow this (maybe for the specific fungus?). It seems like there is a need for more work to be done with this species before any culture method is understood.

I agree that there is more work to be done and would certainly like to see this in culture.

[RosieC]

I really love your pictures of this one. All the pictures on your blog are stunning including the all the non-orchid ones.

[ronaldhanko]

Thanks, Rosie. The park, though heavily used, is an amazing place.