longbract frog orchid

not listed

NNR - Unranked

SNR - Unranked

not listed

FACU - Facultative upland

FAC - Facultative

FAC - Facultative

The stem has 2 to 6 alternate leaves, at least 1 of them clearly above the base. They wrap around (sheathe) the stem at the base, without a leaf stalk or stalk-like inflated sheath.

The modified leaf (bract) subtending each flower is 2 to 3 times longer than that flower. The long, strap-shaped lower petal (lip) has three forward-pointing teeth at the tip. The middle tooth is reduced and usually inconspicuous. The spur is inconspicuous. It is pouch shaped, 1 ⁄16″ to ⅛″ (2 to 3 mm) long, and is tucked behind the lip. The mouth of the spur is covered by a membrane with a small opening.

6″ to 22″

Greenish to yellowish, often tinged with purple or reddish-brown

Moderately moist to wet. Open deciduous woodlands, shrubby woodland borders, and thickets.

May 20 to August 10

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 25, 28, 29, 30.

The map at left includes historical records. Due to ongoing habitat loss, it may include counties where the longbract frog orchid is no longer found.

Native

Extremely widespread; common but declining

Long-bract frog orchid was originally given the Latin name Satyrium viride by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It was later transferred to the bog orchid genus with the name Habenaria viridis. Later, it was placed in the monotypic (containing only one species) genus Coeloglossum. Based on molecular DNA studies published in 1997, it was suggested that it be moved to the genus Dactylorhiza. This suggestion was controversial and not widely accepted outside of Brittan. Recently, an extensive review (Bateman & Rudall, 2017) of the morphology, the phylogeny, and the scientific evidence of the two species Dactylorhiza viridis and Dactylorhiza iberica and the genus Coeloglossum was published in the Kew Bulletin in 2018 (published online December 23, 2017). The authors concluded that “there is no question in our minds that the most appropriate taxonomic decision, based on extensive and diverse scientific evidence, is to retain both viridis and iberica within Dactylorhiza.” The former genus Coeloglossum is now obsolete, and the widely used name Coeloglossum viride is a synonym of Dactylorhiza viridis.