Aspidogyne querceticola (Lindl.) Meneguzzo

Low Ground Orchid

Leaves: Aspidogyne querceticola. ~ By Scott Stewart. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Flowers: Aspidogyne querceticola. ~ By Roger L. Hammer. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Inflorescences: Aspidogyne querceticola. ~ By Scott Stewart. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Fruits: Aspidogyne querceticola. ~ By Paul Rebmann. ~ Copyright © 2024 Wild Florida Photo. ~ ~ www.wildflphoto.com/

Plant form: Aspidogyne querceticola. ~ By Paul Rebmann. ~ Copyright © 2024 Wild Florida Photo. ~ ~ www.wildflphoto.com/

Facts About

Accepted Synonyms: Erythrodes querceticola, Goodyera querceticola, Platythelys querceticola

Aspidogyne querceticola, commonly known as the Low Ground Orchid or Jug Orchid, is distributed in Central and South America and reaches its northern limit in the southeast US. This species typically has 3-8 leaves that are present at flowering time and alternate along the stem that rises from a creeping rhizome. The inflorescence is a terminal raceme with 8-25 tubular, whitish green flowers. A spur is formed at the base of the labellum. This orchid usually blooms in July through September in swamps, shaded floodplains, and hardwood forests.

Aspidogyne querceticola is apparently secure based on its wide distribution in the Bahamas, Mexico, West Indies, and Central and South America. However, it is considered highly rare in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Pollination

Pollinator information for this orchid has not been reported but the shape of the nectar spur and flower arrangement suggests long-tongued bees or small Lepidoptera.

Notes on Subspecies and Varieties

Aspidogyne querceticola is somewhat variable in North America and some field guides identify the plants found in southern Florida as a separate species, A. sagrana. These southern plants flower much earlier, tend to be taller with narrower leaves, and occupy drier habitat. Despite these differences, there exist inconsistencies and gradations between these two groups so that we recognize a single species.

Ecosystem Type

Floodplains, swamps

Characteristics

Habitat:: terrestrial

Leaf arrangement:: alternate

Number of leaves on stem:

six
seven or more

Form of the labellum:: the labellum is not pouch-like

Labellum outline:: the labellum is lobed

Main color of labellum:

green to brown
white
yellow

Nectar spur:: present

Inflorescence type:: the inflorescence is a raceme

Labellum characteristics:

the labellum has a spur
the labellum is lobed

Labellum length:: Up to 7 mm

Sepal length:: 3–4 mm

Plant height:: 5–15 cm

Show All Characteristics

Flowers
Floral bract length:

Up to 5 mm
Flower petal color:
green

white

yellow
Flower symmetry:

the flower is zygomorphic
Flowering date:
July

August

September

Plants in southern Florida may flower in December- March.
Flowers per inflorescence:

8–25

Form of the labellum:

the labellum is not pouch-like

Hairs on flower stalk:

the pedicel is hairless

Hairs on inflorescence axis:

the inflorescence stem is hairless

Inflorescence length:

30–80 mm

Inflorescence type:

the inflorescence is a raceme
Labellum characteristics:
the labellum has a spur

the labellum is lobed
Labellum length:

Up to 7 mm

Labellum outline:

the labellum is lobed

Labellum position:

the flowers are resupinate

Lower petal strongly red-veined:

no
Main color of labellum:
green to brown

white

yellow
Nectar spur:

present

Nectar spur length:

2–4 mm

Number of stamens:

1

Self-pollinating flowers:

there are no cleistogamous flowers

Sepal length:

3–4 mm

Sepals fused only to sepals:

the sepals are separate from one another

Spots on labellum:

no

Spur opening shape:

roughly shaped like a keyhole
Fruits or seeds

Fruit length:

Up to 8 mm

Fruit width:

Up to 7 mm

Length of peduncle when in fruit:

anything

Seed capsule orientation:

the capsule points upwards or outwards
Growth form

Plant height:

5–15 cm

Roots:

the rhizomes are non-coralloid

Underground organs:

this plant has a rhizome

myco-heterotrophic or not:

the plant is chlorophyllous
Leaves
Bract relative length:

bracts may be variable, both longer and shorter than the flower

Leaf arrangement:

alternate

Leaf blade edges:

the leaf edges are entire

Leaf blade length:

50–80 mm

Leaf blade length to width ratio:

2–3.3

Leaf blade shape:

ovate

Leaf blade tip:

the tip of the leaf blade is acute

Leaf blade width:

15–40 mm

Leaves during flowering:

leaves are present during flowering
Number of leaves on stem:
six

seven or more
Place
Ecosystem type:
floodplains

swamps
Habitat:

terrestrial
Location:
Florida

Georgia

Louisiana

Mississippi
Facts and Uses

Mycorrhiza

Monitoring

Propagation

Restoration

Native to North America

Yes

North American Conservation Status & Distribution

Conservation Status

	Conservation and Wetland Status
Global Rank	Apparently Secure
US Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Florida
Global Rank	Apparently Secure
US Status	N/A
Florida Rank	N/A
Florida Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	Facultative Wetland

	Conservation status for: Georgia
Global Rank	Apparently Secure
US Status	N/A
Georgia Rank	N/A
Georgia Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	Facultative Wetland

	Conservation status for: Louisiana
Global Rank	Apparently Secure
US Status	N/A
Louisiana Rank	Highly State Rare
Louisiana Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	Facultative Wetland

	Conservation status for: Mississippi
Global Rank	Apparently Secure
US Status	N/A
Mississippi Rank	Highly State Rare
Mississippi Status	N/A
Canadian Status	N/A
Wetland Status	Facultative Wetland

North America Distribution

Adapted from USDA data

Facts About

Pollination

Notes on Subspecies and Varieties

Ecosystem Type

Characteristics

Flowers

Fruits or seeds

Growth form

Leaves

Place

Facts and Uses

Native to North America

North American Conservation Status & Distribution

Conservation Status

North America Distribution