Giant Rattlesnake Orchis

[ronaldhanko]

This small but attractive orchid is one of of the easiest native orchids to find. It is very widespread and is happy along forest trails.

Giant Rattlesnake Orchis (Goodyera oblongifolia) on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[RosieC]

Excelent pic. I love seeing these wild orchids.

[orchidbingo]

Thanks for posting these native orchids for those of us who can get out to the PNW.

Really enjoyed all your photos on Flickr too.

bingo

[EdinAZ]

Ron,

Thanks for the posting. I really like to see all the native orchids from around the country.

I will be on the Olympic Penninsula in a couple of weeks, in Port Angeles and at Quinault Lodge. Much of our time will be walking/hiking around natural areas (Hurricane Ridge, for one), so I'll be sure to keep my eyes peeled. Any other species out there to be on the lookout for?

Ed

[ronaldhanko]

Originally Posted by EdinAZ

Ron,

Thanks for the posting. I really like to see all the native orchids from around the country.

I will be on the Olympic Penninsula in a couple of weeks, in Port Angeles and at Quinault Lodge. Much of our time will be walking/hiking around natural areas (Hurricane Ridge, for one), so I'll be sure to keep my eyes peeled. Any other species out there to be on the lookout for?

Ed

Hi Ed,
Look on the road to Hurricane Ridge for the Klahane Ridge Switchback Trail (about a mile before the top). There's a trail there and you'll find Platanthera dilatata still blooming, I think, and further up the trail in the forest you'll find Goodyera oblongifolia everywhere on the slopes above the trail. The pictures I've posted should help you find it. Keep an eye out, too, along the road in wet areas for tall spikes of tiny green flowers, Platanthera stricta. You might also find Piperia elegans (tall spikes of long-spurred white and green flowers and Piperia unalascensis (tall spikes of tiny green flowers). It's always worth asking at the ranger stations, too. Not much else blooming this late in the summer.
Have a good time,
Ron

[ronaldhanko]

Originally Posted by EdinAZ

Ron,

Thanks for the posting. I really like to see all the native orchids from around the country.

I will be on the Olympic Penninsula in a couple of weeks, in Port Angeles and at Quinault Lodge. Much of our time will be walking/hiking around natural areas (Hurricane Ridge, for one), so I'll be sure to keep my eyes peeled. Any other species out there to be on the lookout for?

Ed

Ed,
Should have mentioned that we found Piperia elegans behind the big rocks at the end of the picnic area at East Beach. There's also a unique form of Platanthera unalascensis that grows on Hurricane Ridge but the ones we found were finished blooming.
Ron