Liparis loeselii, in a Most Unexpected Place

This May, Lindsay and I came across a single flowering plant of Liparis loeselii in a shrubby old-field on our property in northern Indiana. 

Liparis loeselii is an inconspicuous orchid found in states and provinces throughout the northeastern half of North America.  However, it is listed as a species of conservation concern in seven states, and most occurences of the species are from areas around the Great Lakes and New England states.  Although most of the documented habitats from which Liparis loeselii is known are calcareous wetlands (such as fens, pannes, sedge meadows, marshes, marly lake margins, forested seeps, and wet peaty or sandy meadows), it is sometimes found in the more acidic conditions of bogs, and it also occurs in previously open and disturbed areas that are naturally becoming reforested.  Such is the case on our property.

For my account of finding this species on our property, see my recent post at Through Handlens and Binoculars.

Purple Twayblade

As I was sampling my property last fall, I came across leaves and fruiting stalks of Purple Twayblade (Liparis liliifolia). Today, I was able to find some of the plants in bloom.

Liparis liliifolia grows in mesic forests, savannas, pine woods, and abandoned fields throughout much of eastern North America. It requires some type of disturbance such as fire or windthrown trees, as too much shade can be detrimental to populations of this species.

Liparis loeselii

While performing the last session of monitoring for this growing season at Cabin Creek Bog in Randolph County, Indiana, I found an orchid I had never seen and that had not been collected at the bog or even in Randolph County. They were growing under the shrubby cinquefoil, between the tussocks.

Currently blooming in the fen are Agalinus purpurea, Lobelia kalmii, Parnassia glauca, and Spiranthes cernua. The Gentianopsis procera is up, but not blooming yet. I like the fall fen flowers.