General Description: This perennial, showy orchid is 6-10in (15-25cm) tall. A single whorl of five to six leaves, pale, dusty green, drooping, 2.0-3.2in (5-8cm) long, 1.2-2in (3-5cm) wide, grow from the top of the stem. The leaf stalk and leaves may have a grayish coating over their surfaces. Single (rarely 2) flowers grow from the center of the leaves and are tubular, yellow-green in color, and asymmetrical (orchid-like). The middle petal is greenish-white, 3-lobed, 0.6in (15mm) long, 0.2in (5mm) wide, ridged or crested down the middle. This petal crest has small yellow warts. It flowers in May and fruits in June and July. The fruit is an elliptical capsule 1in (2.5cm) long and 0.4in (1cm) wide. Similar species: Large whorled pogonia (Isotoria verticillata) has purplish-green stems and spreading rather than drooping leaves. Indian cucumber-root (Medeola virginiana) has 6 or more slender leaves and a stem with cobwebby clusters of hairs.

General Habitat:: Habitat for the species consists of middle-aged, dry hardwood or mixed pine-hardwood forests with an open canopy, open understory and sparsely covered ground surface. Preferred habitat is near long-term canopy gaps such as streams, vine gaps and old roads. Orchid collectors and small population size are major factors in the decline of this species. The species is typically found in the mountains of northeast Georgia.

Flowering and fruiting chart