Orchid Family – Orchidaceae
Actual flower size: 1 inch across
Round-leaved Bog-orchid is also called Round-leaf Rein-orchid. Older Latin names are Habenaria orbiculata and Lyasias orbiculata.
Plant Description: Round-leaved Bog-orchid is a 1 to 2-foot tall plant with a pair of large (2 to 6 inches across), round, basal leaves lying nearly flat on the ground. The leaves are somewhat fleshy, shiny on the top, and white to greenish below. There are usually 1 to 5 small, linear bracts on the stem with 5 to 25 showy, white to greenish flowers alternating, loosely up the top third of the stem.
Flower Description: The flowers are up to 1.5 inches across. The sepals are white to whitish-green. The upper sepal is short (1/4 inch), rounded, sometimes slightly notched, and erect. The 4 side sepals are egg-shaped (or somewhat triangular) and spread outward. The lip is narrow, white, strap-shaped, up to ½ inch long, and curves down. The rostellum lobes spread forward over the mouth of the flower. The spur is longer than the lower lip, often more than 1 inch long and strongly curved.
Ecology: Round-leaved Bog-orchid grows in moist stream banks, meadow, west-side and eastside forest.
Note: See note about Rein-Orchids and Bog-Orchids on the Orchid Family page.
Round-leaved Bog-orchid Photo Gallery
Photo information: These photos were all taken on July 22, 2012 in the Wapta Falls Trail, Yoho NP, BC, Canada.
Actual flower size: 1 inch across