 |
|
|
|
|
|
Description: Shadow witch orchid is a small orchid arising from thick, fleshy, faciculate roots. Shadow witch orchid has a basal rosette of oblong to elliptic to obovate or oblanceolate leaves ranging from 2 to 17 cm in length (including to petiole) by 1 to 5.5 cm in width. The under surface of the leaves are glaucous. When wet as depicted in the above image, the upper leaf surface is succulent in appearance otherwise they are thin and papery when dry. The scape (flower stalk) is pubescent and reddish brown to purplish or greenish in color, 1.3 to 6 dm in height. Shadow witch orchid flowers are whitish green. The sepals are ovate to ovate-oblong or elliptic to lanceolate and 3.8 to 8.5 mm in length by 2 to 4 mm in width. The obliquely triangular to semicordate petals are clawed, incurved, and dilated on the outer margin at the base while constricted near the apex. Each obtuse to subacute petal is 4 to 8 mm in length and 1.5 to 5 mm in width near the base and mostly cillate. Shadow witch flowers in most of its range from September to October.
Habitat:
Shadow witch orchid inhabits the margins of woodland streams, sloughs, moist ravines, bottomlands, floodplains, and the shady edges of ponds; nearly always over calcareous rock ("marl" or coquina limestone) soils.
Range:
Shadow witch orchid, which is rare to very rare at least throughout its North American range, is found from southeastern Virginia south to Florida and west to southeastern Texas. The species is disjunct in the Eastern Highland Rim of Tennessee. From these areas of the United States the species ranges south into Central and South America.
References
|