Two summer orchid species in the Pisgah National Forest — 2014-08-01

The same day I visited the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, North Carolina for Triphora trianthophora or Three-birds orchids, I made an additional trip down a nearby Forest Service Road, deeper into the forest. My friend Neil Jacobs had told me about this spot several years ago, and I make it a point to visit the area this time every year.

The plants of both Platanthera ciliaris or Yellow Fringed orchid as well as Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis or Southern Slender Ladies’-tresses orchid are growing along the edge of the narrow, U.S. Forest Service Road.

There were dozens of plants, just a few of them in flower — the rest in bud. I was about a week early. That’s all right, since there were a few of them in perfect bloom. The beautiful orange flowers start opening at the bottom of the inflorescence until all of the buds are open. This can take a week to ten days, depending on weather conditions:

Up close, it’s easy to see the delicate fringe on the lip of each flower:

Scattered among the Yellow Fringed orchids, were quite a few 18-inch (45-cm) spikes of Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis or Southern Slender Ladies’-tresses orchids:

These tiny white flowers are about 1/8 inch long (3 mm) and are spiraled around the stem, either clockwise or counter-clockwise. The flowers appear at the top of the very thin stem in a 4 to 6-inch (10 to 15-cm) inflorescence which I find, BTW, has to be supported in order to be photographed — especially, on closeup shots in even the slightest breeze. I usually use small twigs which are readily available in such a habitat:

These orchids did not disappoint this year, having appeared in greater numbers than last year. The flowers of these two species are scattered on both sides of the road for about 1/4 mile (400 meters). This makes for a very nice setting, especially against the shiny green leaves of Kalmia latifolia (Mountain Laurel). Of course, they will be in trouble if the U.S. Forest Service ever decides to widen this rather narrow, gravel road. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they will not see the need…

–Jim