More Native Colorado Orchids

Goodyera oblongifolia, orchid species leaves with variegation, Western Rattlesnake Plaintain, Giant Rattlesnake Plantain, native orchid species growing wild in San Juan National Forest, Montezuma County, ColoradoGoodyera oblongifolia, orchid species leaves with variegation, Western Rattlesnake Plaintain, Giant Rattlesnake Plantain, native orchid species growing wild in San Juan National Forest, Montezuma County, ColoradoGoodyera oblongifolia, blooming orchid species, leaves with variegation, small white flowers on top of orchid spike, Western Rattlesnake Plaintain, Giant Rattlesnake Plantain, native orchid species growing wild in San Juan National Forest, Montezuma County, Colorado

Goodyera oblongifolia, blooming orchid species, leaves with variegation and veining pattern, Western Rattlesnake Plaintain, Giant Rattlesnake Plantain, native orchid species growing wild in San Juan National Forest, Montezuma County, ColoradoGoodyera oblongifolia, orchid species, leaves with variegation and veining pattern, Western Rattlesnake Plaintain, Giant Rattlesnake Plantain, native orchid species growing wild in San Juan National Forest, Montezuma County, ColoradoGoodyera oblongifolia, orchid species, leaves with variegation, Western Rattlesnake Plaintain, Giant Rattlesnake Plantain, native orchid species growing wild in San Juan National Forest, Montezuma County, Colorado

It’s always a pleasure to see orchids growing happily in the wild. During a recent family hike in Colorado’s San Juan National Forest, we spotted a couple of native orchid varieties. The first three rows of photos show the charming Goodyera oblongifolia, or Western Rattlesnake Plaintain. It’s named for its reticulated leaves which resemble snakeskin. Among these small patches of plants, the patterns were most noticeable on the newest leaves. A prominent white stripe remained in the middle of the older leaves. These orchids were finishing up their blooms, with a few small, white flowers at the tops of their spikes. Lots of seedpods were forming below.

Goodyera oblongifolia, orchid species, small white flowers, Western Rattlesnake Plaintain, Giant Rattlesnake Plantain, native orchid species growing wild in San Juan National Forest, Montezuma County, ColoradoGoodyera oblongifolia, orchid species seedpods, Western Rattlesnake Plaintain, Giant Rattlesnake Plantain, native orchid species growing wild in San Juan National Forest, Montezuma County, ColoradoGoodyera oblongifolia, blooming orchid species, leaves with variegation and veining pattern, Western Rattlesnake Plaintain, Giant Rattlesnake Plantain, native orchid species growing wild in San Juan National Forest, Montezuma County, Colorado

Probably a Corallorhiza orchid, Coralroot, red seedpod on red stem, native orchid species growing wild in San Juan National Forest, Montezuma County, ColoradoProbably a Corallorhiza orchid, Coralroot, red seedpods on red stem, native orchid species growing wild in San Juan National Forest, Montezuma County, ColoradoProbably a Corallorhiza orchid, Coralroot, red seedpod on red stem, native orchid species growing wild in San Juan National Forest, Montezuma County, Colorado

The final row of photos shows seedpods from what was probably a Coralroot, or Corallorhiza orchid. Coralroots are strange plants which have no leaves, but instead feed off fungi in the ground. They only appear above ground when they flower and fruit. My guess is that these plants are one of two species that are native to the area, either the Striped Coral Root, Corallorhiza striata, or the Spotted Coral Root, Corallorhiza maculata. Since the flowers were gone by late summer, it’s tough to distinguish them from only their red seedpods. To see more native Colorado species, check out my earlier post with photos of the Fairy Slipper Orchid and Bog Orchid.

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