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• Galearis spectabilis

Galearis spectabilis — showy orchid

Facts

Showy orchid is found in rich, calcareous forests in all New England states, but is rare in several. This is a low-growing but spectacular orchid, with a pair of broadly ovate basal leaves and showy rose-purple petals.

Habitat

Forests

Characteristics

• Flowers

  Flower bract length

  15–80 mm

  Flower petal color

  • pink
  • white

  Flower symmetry

  there is only one way to evenly divide the flower (the flower is bilaterally symmetrical)

  Flowering date

  • June
  • May

  Flowers per inflorescence

  2–15

  Form of lower petal

  the labellum does not have a pouch-like shape

  Hairs on inflorescence axis

  the main stem of the inflorescence is hairless

  Inflorescence length

  50–100 mm

  Inflorescence type

  the inflorescence is a raceme (a long unbranched stem with stalked flowers growing along it)

  Labellum position

  the labellum is in the lower position on the flower

  Length of flower stalk

  0 mm

  Length of narrowed base of lower petal

  0 mm

  Length of peduncle

  100–200 mm

  Lobes at base of lower petal

  0 mm

  Lower petal characteristics

  • the labellum has spurs on it
  • the labellum is simple in form

  Lower petal length

  10–18 mm

  Lower petal outline

  the labellum is simple in form

  Lower petal strongly red-veined

  no

  Main color of lower petal

  • pink to red
  • white

  Nectar spur

  the flower has at least one nectar spur on it

  Nectar spur length

  9–20 mm

  Number of stamens

  1

  Orientation of side petals

  the lateral petals are angled steeply upwards

  Sepal length

  10–20 mm

  Sepals fused only to sepals

  the sepals are separate from one another

  Spots on lower petal

  no

  Spur opening membrane

  there is no membrane over the spur opening

• Fruits or seeds

  Seed capsule orientation

  the capsule points upwards or is angled outwards

• Growth form

  Plant green or not

  the plant is chlorophyllous (it has green parts)

  Roots

  the rhizomes do not resemble coral

  Underground organs

  • there are only slender roots on the plant
  • this plant has a rhizome (a horizontal underground stem with roots growing from it)

• Leaves

  Bract relative length

  • the bract is longer than the associated flower
  • the bract is shorter than the associated flower

  Features of leaves

  the leaf does not have any of the mentioned special features

  Leaf arrangement

  basal: the leaves are growing only at the base of the plant

  Leaf blade edges

  the edges of the leaf blade have no teeth

  Leaf blade length

  90–200 mm

  Leaf blade length to width ratio

  2–4.5

  Leaf blade shape

  • the leaf blade is elliptic (widest near the middle and tapering at both ends)
  • the leaf blade is lanceolate (lance-shaped; widest below the middle and tapering at both ends)
  • the leaf blade is obovate (egg-shaped, but with the widest point above the middle of the leaf blade)
  • the leaf blade is orbicular (roughly circular, as wide as long)
  • the leaf blade is ovate (widest below the middle and broadly tapering at both ends)

  Leaf blade tip

  the tip of the leaf blade is obtuse (bluntly pointed)

  Leaf blade width

  20–100 mm

  Leaves during flowering

  there are leaves on the plant when it is flowering

  Number of bracts on stem

  0

  Number of leaves on stem

  absent

• Place

  Habitat

  terrestrial

  New England state

  • Connecticut
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont

  Specific habitat

  forests

Wetland status

Not classified

New England distribution and conservation status

From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae