Pogonia ophioglossoides (Rose pogonia)

Pogonia ophioglossoides (L.) Ker Gawl.

Pogonia ophioglossoides (L.) Ker Gawl. var. brachypogon Fernald

Rose pogonia, snakemouth orchid

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Liliopsida	Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
Subclass	Liliidae	Includes lilies, orchids, and many others
Order	Asparagales	A diverse group that includes asparagus
Family	Orchidaceae	Orchid family
Genus	Pogonia	From the Greek pogonias, “bearded,” for the fringed lip
Species	ophioglossoides	From orphis, “snake,” glassa “tongue,” and eidos, “like”: resembling an Ophioglossum (the adder’s tongue fern, whose leaf somewhat resembles that of this orchid)

About plant names...

Rose pogonia is a perennial orchid, native to central and eastern North America. It is found in bogs, fens, prairies, meadows, woodlands, swamps, and along river or pond edges. It is rare but not endangered over much of its range.

Plants: 1½-28" (4-70 cm) tall, occurring sometimes in colonies.

Leaves: A single clasping leaf appears midway up the stem. It is 1½-4" (3.8-10 cm) × ¾" (1.9 cm).

Flowers: One, rarely two, or very rarely three flowers top each stalk. Flowers are pink, or rarely white. The labellum, or lip, has jagged (lacerate) edges and a “beard” comprised of several rows of dark pink, yellow, or purple hairs. It is ⅜-⅞" (1.2-2.5 cm) long. Sepals are ½-⅞" (1.4-2.3 cm) long. There is an erect upper sepal, and two petals forming a hood. Flowers appear from June to August.

Fruits: An erect capsule up to 1" (2.5 cm) long.

These similar species are found in similar habitats:

Preserved by the Frenchman Bay Conservancy · 12/8/2020 · Hancock County, Maine · By Susan Cole Kelly

	*Calopogon tuberosus*	*Arethusa bulbosa*	You are here Pogonia ophioglossoides
Common Name	grass pink	dragon’s mouth orchid	rose pogonia
Plant	A single flowering stalk, up to 4' (1.2 m) in height *(larger than similar species), with a single basal leaf. The labellum, is uppermost*, vs. lowermost on dragon’s mouth orchids.	Inconspicuous unless flowering, but flowers are showy and unique. At less than 16" (40 cm) tall, *smaller* than similar orchids. And the *labellum, or lip, is lowermost, vs. uppermost on grass pinks.*	1½-28" (4-70 cm) tall, occurring sometimes in colonies.
Flowers	Flowers occur in groups (racemes) of *2-25 flowers*, each 1-2" (2.5-5 cm) wide. The fragrant flowers are light pink, magenta, or rarely, white. Sepals are ⅜-⅞" (1.2-2.5 cm) long, with a lobed labellum (lip) ⅜-⅞" (1.1-2.3 cm) in length. The labellum is larger in proportion to the flower, as compared to other orchids. Flowers appear from May to July.	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 to as late as mid-July, depending upon region.	One, rarely two, or very rarely three flowers top each stalk. Flowers are pink, or rarely white. The labellum, or lip, has jagged (lacerate) edges and a *“beard” comprised of several rows of dark pink, yellow, or purple hairs*. It is ⅜-⅞" (1.2-2.5 cm) long. Sepals are ½-⅞" (1.4-2.3 cm) long. There is an erect upper sepal, and two petals forming a hood. Flowers appear from June to August.
Leaves	A single, basal leaf, narrow and linear in shape, is up to 15" (38 cm) long and 1" (2.5 cm) wide.	A single, basal, grasslike leaf, 1½-8" (4-20 cm) × ⅛-⅜" (3-12 mm), typically develops after flowering.	A single clasping leaf appears midway up the stem. It is 1½-4" (3.8-10 cm) × ¾" (1.9 cm).
Fruit	Oblong capsules up to ⅞" (2.5 cm) long. Fruits appear from July to September.	An erect capsule, ¾-1¼" (1.9-3.2 cm) long.	An erect capsule up to 1" (2.5 cm) long.
Range/ Zones			USDA Zones: 3-8
Habitats	Bogs, fens, swamps, damp meadows, grasslands, and savannas.	Bogs, meadows, fens, and fields, and the edges of swamps and other wetlands.	Bogs, fens, prairies, meadows, woodlands, swamps, and along river or pond edges.
Type	Wild	Wild	Wild
Occurrence	Rare	Rare	Rare

Online References:

Pogonia ophioglossoides at Minnesota Wildflowers

Pogonia ophioglossoides at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Pogonia ophioglossoides on goorchids.northamericanorchidcenter.org

Pogonia ophioglossoides on plants.ces.ncsu.edu

Pogonia ophioglossoides description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 20 Dec 2020.

Range: Zones 3-8:

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