Arethusa bulbosa L.

Dragon’s mouth orchid, dragon’s mouth

Dragon’s mouth orchids are rare, found in northeastern North America. If you find some, please admire them, but don’t touch them! This is the only species in this genus, though it is closely related to the Japanese species Eleorchis japonica. If you happen to be a bee, these flowers are all show and no substance, offering little in the way of nectar. Experienced bees quickly learn to avoid them.

Plants: Plants are practically invisible unless they are in flower, when their showy flowers are not easily confused with any other species. These are somewhat similar to Calopogon tuberosus (tuberous grass pinks), but dra­gon’s mouth orchids are smaller (less than 1½′ (45 cm)) tall, vs. up to 4′ (1.2 m). And the labellum, or lip, is lowermost, vs. uppermost on grass pinks. Both orchids are found in the same habitats, in the parts of their range that overlaps.

Leaves: A single, basal, grasslike leaf, 1½–8 ⨉ ⅛–⅜″ (4–20 cm ⨉ 3–12 mm), typically develops after flowering.

Flowers: Each stem is 4–16″ (10–40 cm) long, and tipped by a single flower, rarely two. Each flower has three sepals on top, like rabbit ears, and two petals that form a hood. The sepals are ¾–2″ (2–5.5 cm) long. A colorful lower lip—the labellum—is ¾–1¼″ (1.9–3.5 cm) long, and white, with a yellow middle region and pink speckles, and some bristles in the center. Sepals and petals are pink to red, and rarely, white. Flowers appear from May through mid-July, depend­ing upon region.

Fruits: An erect capsule, ¾–1¼″ (1.9–3.2 cm) long.

Habitats: Bogs, meadows, fens, and fields, and the edges of swamps and other wetlands. They are often found nestled among sphagnum mosses.

These similar species are found in similar habitats:

Similar species.

Online References:

 

Arethusa bulbosa description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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