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Calopogon tuberosus (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.

Grass pink

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassLiliopsidaMonocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
SubclassLiliidaeIncludes lilies, orchids, and many others
OrderAsparagalesA diverse group that includes asparagus
FamilyOrchidaceaeOrchid family
GenusCalopogonFrom Greek kalos, “beautiful,” and pogon, “beard,” for the yellow “hairs” that attract pollinators
Speciestuberosus

About plant names...

The tuberous grass pink is an orchid native to eastern North America. Its range extends from eastern Canada all the way to the Caribbean. “Tuberous,” because the root is a ball-shaped corm; and “grass pink” for the grasslike single leaf, narrow like those of pinks. Grass pinks prefer bogs, fens, swamps, damp meadows, grasslands, and savannas. They are uncommon, and considered endangered in Illinois, Kentucky, and Maryland, New York, and Rhode Island. They are also also classified as rare in Vermont, Delaware, Vir­ginia, West Virginia, Arkansas, Ohio, Missouri, Okla­homa, North Carolina, Georgia, Quebec, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island. Look, but please don’t touch!

Plants: Each plant consists of a single flowering stalk, up to 4′ (1.2 m) in height, accompanied by 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 1½′ (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.

Leaves: A single, basal leaf, narrow and linear in shape, is up to 1′ (38 cm) long and 1″ (2.5 cm) wide.

Flowers: 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.

Fruits: Oblong capsules up to ⅞″ (2.5 cm) long. Fruits appear from July to September.

These similar species are found in similar habitats:

 

Calopogon tuberosus (grass pink)

6/18/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · By Priscilla Seimer

Calopogon tuberosus (grass pink)

6/19/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine

Calopogon tuberosus (grass pink)

6/30/2011 · Corea Heath, Corea, Maine · By Susan Cole Kelly

 
Arethusa bulbosa

Pogonia ophioglossoides
Common Name

dragon’s mouth orchid

rose pogonia
Plant Inconspicuous unless flowering, but flowers are showy and unique. At less than 1′ (40 cm) tall, smaller than similar orchids. And the labellum, or lip, is lowermost, vs. uppermost on grass pinks. 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. 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 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. An erect capsule up to 1″ (2.5 cm) long.
Range/ Zones

USDA Zones: 3-8
Habitats Bogs, meadows, fens, and fields, and the edges of swamps and other wetlands. Bogs, fens, prairies, meadows, woodlands, swamps, and along river or pond edges.
Type Wild Wild
Occurrence Rare Rare

 

Online References:

The U.S. Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers site

Goorchids.northamericanorchidcenter.org

The Missouri Botanical Garden

Wikipedia

References:

Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 132

 

Calopogon tuberosus description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 23 Sep 2021.

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Range:

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