Large whorled pogonia

Description

Isotria verticillata, commonly known as the large whorled pogonia and purple fiveleaf orchid, is an orchid species native to eastern North America. The orchid's native range is across the Eastern United States in the Appalachian Mountains, the central and eastern Great Lakes region, and elsewhere from Maine south to Florida, and westward from Michigan south to Texas. It is also native to Ontario, Canada. It grows in acidic soils in forests and in peat bogs. Isotria verticillata is a terrestrial orchid spreading by underground rhizomes. Its leaves are green above, waxy and a bit whitened below. The flowers are yellowish-green, up to 110 mm (4.3 inches) across. Isotria (fiveleaf orchid) is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.