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Arethusa bulbosa L. Dragon’s mouth orchid
Dragon’s mouth orchids are rare, found in northeastern North America. If you find some, please admire them, but don’t touch them! They prefer bogs, meadows, fens, and fields, and the edges of swamps and other wetlands. They are often found nestled among sphagnum mosses. This is the only species in this genus, though it is closely related to the Japanese species Eleorchis japonica. If you happen to be a bee, these flowers are all show and no substance, offering little in the way of nectar. Experienced bees quickly learn to avoid them. Plants: Plants are practically invisible unless they are in flower, when their showy flowers are not easily confused with any other species. These are somewhat similar to Calopogon tuberosus (tuberous grass pinks), but dragon’s mouth orchids are smaller (less than 18" (45 cm)) tall, vs. up to 4' (1.2 m). And the labellum, or lip, is lowermost, vs. uppermost on grass pinks. Both orchids are found in the same habitats, in the parts of their range that overlaps. Leaves: A single, basal, grasslike leaf, 1½-8" (4-20 cm) × ⅛-⅜" (3-12 mm), typically develops after flowering. Flowers: Each stem is 4-16" (10-40 cm) long, and tipped by a single flower, rarely two. Each flower has three sepals on top, like rabbit ears, and two petals that form a hood. The sepals are ¾-2" (2-5.5 cm) long. A colorful lower lip—the labellum—is ¾-1¼" (1.9-3.5 cm) long, and white, with a yellow middle region and pink speckles, and some bristles in the center. Sepals and petals are pink to red, and rarely, white. Flowers appear from May through mid-July, depending upon region. Fruits: An erect capsule, ¾-1¼" (1.9-3.2 cm) long. These similar species are found in similar habitats: |
A rare white dragon’s mouth orchid. · 12/8/2020 · Hancock County, Maine · By Susan Cole Kelly
12/8/2020 · Hancock County, Maine · By Susan Cole Kelly |
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| You are here Arethusa bulbosa |
Calopogon tuberosus |
Pogonia ophioglossoides |
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| Plant | Inconspicuous unless flowering, but flowers are showy and unique. At less than 16" (40 cm) tall, smaller than similar orchids. And the labellum, or lip, is lowermost, vs. uppermost on grass pinks. | A single flowering stalk, up to 4' (1.2 m) in height, withy a single basal leaf. These are somewhat similar to Arethusa bulbosa (dragon’s mouth orchids), but tuberous grass pinks are taller, up to 4' (1.2 m) vs. less than 18" (45 cm) tall. And the labellum, or lip, is uppermost, vs. lowermost on dragon’s mouth orchids. Both orchids are found in the same habitats, in the parts of their range that overlaps. | 1½-28" (4-70 cm) tall, occurring sometimes in colonies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flowers | Each stem is 4-16" (10-40 cm) long, and tipped by a single flower, rarely two. Each flower has three sepals on top, like rabbit ears, and two petals that form a hood. The sepals are ¾-2" (2-5.5 cm) long. A colorful lower lip—the labellum—is ¾-1¼" (1.9-3.5 cm) long, and white, with a yellow middle region and pink speckles, and some bristles in the center. Sepals and petals are pink to red, and rarely, white. Flowers appear from May to as late as mid-July, depending upon region. | Flowers occur in groups (racemes) of 2-25 flowers, each 1-2" (2.5-5 cm) wide. The fragrant flowers are light pink, magenta, or rarely, white. Like all orchids, they have bilateral symmetry—if you divide the flower vertically down the center, the halves are mirror images. Sepals are ⅜-⅞" (1.2-2.5 cm) long, with a lobed labellum (lip) ⅜-⅞" (1.1-2.3 cm) in length. The labellum is larger in proportion to the flower, as compared to other orchids. Flowers appear from May to July. | One, rarely two, or very rarely three flowers top each stalk. Flowers are pink, or rarely white. The labellum, or lip, has jagged (lacerate) edges and a “beard” comprised of several rows of dark pink, yellow, or purple hairs. It is ⅜-⅞" (1.2-2.5 cm) long. Sepals are ½-⅞" (1.4-2.3 cm) long. There is an erect upper sepal, and two petals forming a hood. Flowers appear from June to August. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leaves | A single, basal, grasslike leaf, 1½-8" (4-20 cm) × ⅛-⅜" (3-12 mm), typically develops after flowering. | A single, basal leaf, narrow and linear in shape, is up to 15" (38 cm) long and 1" (2.5 cm) wide. | A single clasping leaf appears midway up the stem. It is 1½-4" (3.8-10 cm) × ¾" (1.9 cm). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fruit | An erect capsule, ¾-1¼" (1.9-3.2 cm) long. | Oblong capsules up to ⅞" (2.5 cm) long. Fruits appear from July to September. | An erect capsule up to 1" (2.5 cm) long. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Habitats | Bogs, meadows, fens, and fields, and the edges of swamps and other wetlands. | Bogs, fens, swamps, damp meadows, grasslands, and savannas. | Bogs, fens, prairies, meadows, woodlands, swamps, and along river or pond edges. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Wild | Wild | Wild | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occurrence | Rare | Rare | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Online References:
Arethusa bulbosa on orchids.botany.wisc.edu
Arethusa bulbosa on www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us (PDF)
Arethusa bulbosa on gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org
Arethusa bulbosa on goorchids.northamericanorchidcenter.org
Arethusa bulbosa on Wikipedia
Arethusa bulbosa description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 24 Dec 2020.
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