Pogonia ophioglossoides (L.) Ker Gawl.

Rose Pogonia; Snake Mouth Orchid; Rose Crested Orchid

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Rose Pogonia is a native perennial in the Orchid family (Orchidaceae). It can be found in scattered locations across Alabama, but is more common in southern Alabama. It grows in sphagnum bogs, wet pine flatwoods, pine savannas, and seeps. Rose Pogonia is a perennial from a long slender rootstock that produces stems that are widely scattered along its length. Stems are green and up to 12 inches in height. The stem has a (usually) single elliptic to lanceolate leaf about mid-stem. The leaf is glabrous with an entire margin. Slightly below the terminal flower is a conspicuous leaf-like bract. The flower is terminal and solitary. The three sepals are pink and spreading. Two petals are similar to the sepals and bend forward over the labellum or lip (the third petal). The lip petal is spatulate with lacerate margins. It is lined with darker pink stripes and is crested with white and yellow towards the base. Flowers are rarely white in color. The fruit is a capsule with many dust-like seed. As with most orchids, cultivation is difficult and plants usually do not survive transplanting. It is recommended that you buy cultivated plants from a reputable source, rather than remove them from the wild. Some nurseries that specialize in orchids or bog plants offer this species for sale. It requires a consistently moist, acidic soil and full sun. It can be grown in a bog garden.--A. Diamond

**

Native OBL (NWPL)

**