Calopogon tuberosus (Tuberous Grass-pink)

Plant Info

Also known as:
Genus:	Calopogon
Family:	Orchidaceae (Orchid)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun; coniferous swamps, peat bogs, sedge meadows
Bloom season:	early summer
Plant height:	8 to 21 inches
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower:

A lively raceme of 2 to 12 light (rarely white) to deep pink flowers atop a long, smooth, slender stem. Over-all flower dimensions 1 inch long by 1¼ inch wide, petals and sepals broad, sharpening to a point. The flower column is narrow, winged at tip, curving down and out, rising above flower center, covered with white and yellow bristles before flaring at the tip. 

Leaves and stem:

A single leaf, grass or sword-like, up to ¾ inch wide and to 14 inches long, with obvious parallel veins. Smooth, throughout, the flower stem has several tight sheaths at the base.

Notes:

In terms of mass of bright color, this could claim to be Minnesota's showiest orchid. Another unique characteristic is this flower is upside-down. Other orchid species have the sepals at the top and showy lip at the bottom, Grass Pink is reversed. The yellow colored bristles on the lip are not functional like the yellow anthers of other flowers, but serve to attact foraging bees. The lip is also hinged and closes down onto bees forcing them against the pollinia at the end of the flower column; it attaches to the insect and then is carried to the next flower to complete pollinization.

More photos

• Grass Pink plants
• Grass Pink habitat
• more flowers

Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk, taken on floating sphagnum mats along a lake edge in Aitkin County

Comments

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