Ponthieva racemosa (Walter) C. Mohr

Shadow Witch

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Shadow Witch is a native perennial wildflower in the Orchid family (Orchidaceae). It occurs in scattered locations across Alabama, south through Central America to northern South America. Shadow Witch grows in bald cypress swamps, seeps, rich calcareous woods, and in cedar glades. It has a basal rosette of green lance shaped leaves that have a succulent appearance. The flower stalks are produced in late autumn and grow to a height of six to eighteen inches. They are pubescent and reddish brown or green in color. Shadow Witch produces up to two dozen flat flowers that are about one half inch across. They open from the bottom of the stalk towards the top. The flowers are white striped with mint green, and are held nearly parallel with the ground. They have a faint citrus odor. It is listed as an S2 plant in Alabama (typically 6 to 20 occurrences, few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable in the state), and globally as a G4/5 plant (G4 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors-G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery). Shadow Witch is sometimes available from nurseries that sell native orchids. It can be grown in a terrarium or pot with moist organic soil. Shadow Witch produces asexual clones from the roots, and usually occurs in small colonies. Before purchasing plants, you should make sure they were nursery grown and not wild collected. --A. Diamond

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Native FACW+ (NWPL) S2 (State Rank) G4G5 (Global Rank)

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