Facts About

Accepted Synonyms: Helleborine pallida, Limodorum pallidum

Calopogon pallidus, commonly known as Pale Grass Pink, is found throughout the southeastern United States from Virginia to Florida. It produces several pink, magenta, or white non-resupinate flowers and one grass-like basal leaf. It is easily distinguished from other Calopogon species because of its smaller and more narrow flowers. It is known to form natural hybrids with C. multiflorus and C. tuberosus. It commonly grows in moist areas such as bogs, pinelands, and meadows and is known to flower abundantly after disturbances such as wildfires.

Calopogon pallidus is apparently secure globally, but is rare or uncommon in several states.

Pollination

The flowers of Calopogon appear to be upside down with the lip at the top of the flower and use deception to attract pollinators. Midway up the lip, a tuft of orange-yellow hairs resembles pollen which attract naive, recently emerged bees expecting a reward. Bees of sufficient weight, such as the honey bee Apis mellifera and Xylocopa virginica, force the hinged labellum to swing down, dropping the pollinator backwards onto the column. Any pollen attached to the bee is pressed onto the stigma and as the bee exits the flower, it picks up a new load of sticky pollen found on the end of the column.

Ecosystem Type

Bogs, floodplains, grassland, meadows, woodlands

Characteristics

Native to North America

Yes

North American Conservation Status & Distribution