Amerorchis rotundifolia (Small Round-leaved Orchid)

Plant Info
Also known as: Round-leaved Orchis
Genus:Amerorchis
Family:Orchidaceae (Orchid)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:part shade, shade; coniferous swamps, peat bogs, fens
Bloom season:June - July
Plant height:8 to 14 inches
Wetland Indicator Status:none
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map
National distribution (click map to enlarge):National distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: irregular Cluster type: raceme

[photo of flowers] A slender smooth raceme of 4 to 18 irregular flowers each ½ to ¾ inch wide and high, on the ends of ½ inch green ovaries with a single bract up to ¾ inch long. The upper lip is a pinkish hood. The lower lip is white with purple spots and 3-lobed, with the middle lobe largest and notched at the tip. 2 petal-like white sepals spread out at the sides with a third over the hood. A curving spur hangs down at the back. A very cheerful and merry clown-like flower with a pink hood, white drapped side arms and purple polka-dot pantaloons on.

Leaves and stem: Leaf attachment: basal Leaf type: simple

[photo of leaf] A single basal leaf 2 to 6 inches long, ¾ to 3½ inches wide, generally oval to elliptic, toothless, hairless, and blunted at the tip. The single flowering stem is smooth and green.

Fruit: Fruit type: capsule/pod

Fruit is an erect capsule, ½ to ¾ inch long.

Notes:

An exciting wildflower to come upon, it is not so rare but its habitat is rarely visited. Common on the large peatlands of northwest and north-central Minnesota it is also a denizen of dark coniferous bogs of the NE. In some references, this species goes by synonym Galearis rotundifolia.

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More photos

Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk, taken on SNA lands in Cass County

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Harvey - Beltrami County
on: 2013-07-02 20:15:53

We found many small patches of small round-leaved orchids in full bloom in a mature tamarack stand south of Blackduck on July 2, 2013.

Posted by: Frances - Rochester
on: 2016-03-23 07:25:05

thx this helped me...😃

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