Platanthera lacera and Calopogon tuberosus in situ

[musiclovertony]

I visited a wet meadow/rich fen, today. It's about 5 acres, surrounded by 30 acres of privately owned, highly degraded wet meadow (now mostly phalaris, and phragmites grass with heavy native shrub cover) to the west and 30 acres of wet meadow with some measure of invasive grasses, but also quite decent native diversity to the north, south and east. The area to the west is not managed and is very degraded. The areas to the north, south and east are managed and though degraded, look pretty good and have a good deal of native diversity.

Anyways, that aside, I found 4 Calopogon tuberosus plants in the rich fen portion of the site. Interestingly enough, the 4 I found were all growing in a fallow ditch that was made to drain the site in the 1930s. Resilience of nature!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/musicloveranthony/4698357785/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/musicloveranthony/4698357741/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/musicloveranthony/4698992104/

The area of rich fen also contains a few plants of Platanthera flava var. herbolia (tubercled rein orchid). This is an endangered species in Minnesota. I found 3 plants in early bud, so I will be returning to find them when in a couple weeks when they are in flower.

The wet meadow to the north, south and east of the rich fen contains quite a few plants of Platanthera lacera (ragged fringed orchid). These were mostly in early bud, but I did find 3 or 4 plants with a few of the lower buds open and snapped a pic of one of them

http://www.flickr.com/photos/musicloveranthony/4698357425/

Thanks for checking it out!

 

[Ross]

Great photos, Tony! Thanks for sharing them with us.

 

[potter]

very nice photos! thanks for posting )

 

[smartie2000]

I love the Calopogon tuberosus!
they remind me of Cycnodes orchids

 

[musiclovertony]

I love the Calopogon tuberosus!
they remind me of Cycnodes orchids

That's a good comparison, I'd never noticed that They're non-resupinate, though, so their flowers are naturally "upside-down" :crazy:

 

[KyushuCalanthe]

Very nice Tony, thanks for posting these.

 

[SlipperFan]

That is a good comparison. And I love the flowers on both genera.

 

[JeanLux]

Very nice pics!!! Thanks!!! Jean

 

[NYEric]

Thanx for sharing, looks very humid!

 

[cnycharles]

nice pictures! interesting that minnesota would have certain orchids earlier than here (central ny)... flava might be just starting to flower, but lacera won't be flowering until after july 10th usually

 

[musiclovertony]

Thanks for the nice comments
Yes, Eric it's been really humid here, lately. It's been raining everyday for the last week or so.
Charles, that probably to some extent addresses the early bloom season we're having here in Minnesota. Normally our Platanthera would not be in bloom until mid July. It's been exceptionally warm this Spring, though and these last few weeks have been very wet. I've actually entirely missed the Cypripedium parviflorum, Galearis spectabilis, and Aplectrum hyemale this spring There's always next year, though