Nodding Pogonia
Triphora trianthophora (Swartz) Rydberg
Nodding Pogonia: https://marylandbiodiversity.com/species/1731
Synonyms
Three Birds Orchid  Threebirds  Triphora trianthophoros  Triphora trianthophoros trianthophoros 
Tags
Endangered (MD) S1 (Highly state rare) Vulnerable

Map Snapshot

14 Records

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Status

Nodding Pogonia is highly state rare (S1) and state endangered in Maryland.

Seasonality Snapshot

Resources

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Source: Wikipedia

Triphora trianthophoros
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Triphora
Species:
T. trianthophoros
Binomial name
Triphora trianthophoros

Triphora trianthophoros, the threebirds[1] or three birds orchid, or nodding pogonia, is a species of terrestrial orchid native to eastern North America.

Description

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Triphora trianthophoros is a small, terrestrial, semi-saprophytic orchid.[2] The showiest member of its genus, T. trianthophoros has 1-8 (often 3, thus the name) nodding flowers that are roughly 2 cm in size and sit atop stems 8–25 cm tall. Leaves are small (~1 cm X 1.5 cm) and typically dark green to purple. The orchid blooms from July through September, but is infamous for its elusive nature, with ephemeral flowers lasting for only several hours on a few days of the year.[3] It has further been reported that populations across a region synchronize blooming on specific days, making observation of flowering specimens even more difficult.[4] Several forms of T. trianthophoros exist, including forma albidoflava (Keenan) with white flowers, forma caerulea (P.M. Brown) with blue flowers, and forma rossii (P.M. Brown) with multi-colored flowers.[5][6][7]

Habitat and range

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Triphora trianthophoros is native to the eastern North America, ranging from as far south as Panama and north through Central America and the central and eastern United States into Ontario.[2] Despite its wide distribution, the species is rare throughout much of its range and has been given G3G4 (secured, but with cause for concern) conservation status by NatureServe.[8]

Triphora trianthophoros is usually found in mixed deciduous forests. Co-located species often include partridgeberry and beech trees.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ NRCS. "Triphora trianthophora". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Ramstetter, Jennifer (May 2001). "Triphora trianthophora (Swartz) Rydb.: Three Birds Orchid". New England Plant Conservation Program Conservation and Research Plan.
  3. ^ a b Brown, P.M. (2004). Wild Orchids of the Southeastern United States North of Peninsular Florida. University Press of Florida. pp. 238–239. ISBN 0-8130-2749-7.
  4. ^ Philipps, Thomas. "Three Birds Orchid". Plant of the Week. USDA Forest Service. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  5. ^ Keenan (1992). "A New Form of Triphora Trianthophora (Swartz) Rydberg, and Part 3 of Observations on the Ecology of Triphora Trianthophora (Orchidaceae) in New Hampshire". Rhodora. 94: 38–39.
  6. ^ Brown, P.M. (2001). "Recent Taxonomic and Distributional Notes From Florida". North American Native Orchid Journal. 7 (1): 94–95.
  7. ^ Brown, P.M. (1999). "Recent Taxonomic and Distributional Notes From Florida". North American Native Orchid Journal. 5 (1): 5.
  8. ^ Maine Department of Conservation Natural Areas Program (2004). "Triphora trianthophora (Sw.) Rydb.: Nodding Pogonia". Rare Plant Fact Sheet.