Tipularia discolor
Encyclopedia
The Crane-fly Orchid is a perennial terrestrial woodland orchid, a member of the Orchidaceae. It is the only species
of the genus
Tipularia
found in North America
. This orchid grows a single leaf in September that disappears in the spring
. The leaf is green with dark purple spots. The orchid blooms in mid-July to late August. The roots are a connected series of corm
s. Its roots are edible. They are starchy and almost potato-like.
The plant is pollinated by noctuid moths, by means of flowers which incline slightly to the right or left, so the pollinaria can attach to one of the moth's eyes.
Cranefly orchids are endangered, threatened, or rare in several states.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Tipularia
Tipularia
Tipularia is a genus of temperate terrestrial orchids , comprising only three species, one each from North America, Japan, and the Himalayas. Its name is derived from Tipula, a genus of cranefly....
found in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. This orchid grows a single leaf in September that disappears in the spring
Spring (season)
Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition period between winter and summer. Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth. The specific definition of the exact timing of "spring" varies according to local climate, cultures and...
. The leaf is green with dark purple spots. The orchid blooms in mid-July to late August. The roots are a connected series of corm
Corm
A corm is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ used by some plants to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat ....
s. Its roots are edible. They are starchy and almost potato-like.
The plant is pollinated by noctuid moths, by means of flowers which incline slightly to the right or left, so the pollinaria can attach to one of the moth's eyes.
Cranefly orchids are endangered, threatened, or rare in several states.