Triphora craigheadii
Brittonia 18: 243, figs. 5–8. 1966.
Plants 4–8 cm. Roots from ovoid tuberoids, 15 × 5 mm. Stems purplish, unbranched. Leaves 1–4; blade dark green adaxially, purple abaxially, broadly ovate-cordate, not reniform, 9–10 × 11–12 mm, margins undulate. Inflorescences 1–3-flowered racemes. Flowers resupinate, nodding to nearly erect, somewhat gaping, flowering synchronous and ephemeral; sepals light green; dorsal sepal obovate, 6 × 2 mm; lateral sepals ovate, slightly falcate, 6 × 2 mm; petals white or suffused with pink, lanceolate-ovate, falcate, 6 × 2 mm; lip facing away from stem, white with irregular purple spots, broadly triangular, 3-lobed, 5.5 × 4 mm, middle lobe broadly truncate, lateral lobes ± triangular, margins sinuate; disc with 3 white, parallel crests, not papillose; column pale green, clavate, slender, 5 mm; pollinia 2, yellow. Capsules pendent or erect, ellipsoid, 10 × 5 mm.
Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Low, poorly drained hardwoods in rich humus, often on or near decaying logs
Elevation: 0–20 m
Discussion
Selected References
None.