Amerorchis rotundifolia

[ronaldhanko]

We found this in abundance in several location, but never stopped admiring it:

Round-leaf Orchis (Amerorchis rotundifolia) on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[tuvoc]

Another beauty, Ron.

Kim

[Paul]

Beautiful!

[ronaldhanko]

Thanks, Kim and Paul.

[RosieC]

Oh wow, I really like that one. Great delicate colour.

[ronaldhanko]

It is beautiful isn't it? Thanks for the comments, Rosie.

[RosieC]

Does anyone know what Alliance this one belongs to. I've searched on the Web and can't find it.

[ronaldhanko]

Originally Posted by RosieC

Does anyone know what Alliance this one belongs to. I've searched on the Web and can't find it.

Hi Rosie,
It's related to the terrestrial European genus Orchis, and used to be so classified, but because it's the only native American species related to that genus it's been put in a category of its own. Hope that helps.
If you are looking for it for your collection I don't think it's possible. It's one of those native species that are almost impossible to grow in horticulture - needs a special soil fungus and other unique conditions. I don't know of it being cultivated by anyone, though it is worth a try if it can be obtained without collecting in the wild.

[RosieC]

Thanks Ron,

No I wasn't looking for growing it

I was actually interested in how closley it was related to some of our European ones such as Dactylorhiza as I can see some likeness between them. Orchis is a difficult genus to look up though as google keeps thinking you have mistyped orchid and gives links for that instead

[ronaldhanko]

Hi again, Rosie,
Good old google. I did find someone who's keeping it in cultivation in a bog garden, but they lifted a whole section of sod and soil from a construction site and moved it to their own location.