Dactylorhiza viridis (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase
Frog Orchid, Long Bracted Green Orchid
Facts About
Accepted Synonyms: Coeloglossum viride, Platanthera viridis
Dactylorhiza viridis, also known as the Frog Orchid, has one of the widest global distributions of any orchid: it is found across Eurasia, Canada, and the United States, from Alaska to North Carolina. It produces multiple green flowers, with the petals and labellum often suffused with red or brown. The large floral bracts usually extend beyond the small, inconspicuous flowers; in addition, the green color of the petals and labellum means that the flowers themselves can be hard to distinguish. The dorsal sepal curves to form a hood over the labellum. It prefers moist habitats, growing in wet coniferous forests, tundras, prairies, meadows, and bogs.
Dactylorhiza viridis is considered globally secure and is well established throughout much of Canada, although it may be rare in a few mid-Atlantic and New England states.
Pollination
The pollinators of this orchid are unknown in North American populations. Populations in the Faroes are suspected of being autogamous since insects capable of pollinating the flower are limited.
Ecosystem Type
Bogs, disturbed habitats, fens, forests, meadows, shrublands or thickets, swamps, tundra, woodlands
Characteristics
- Habitat:
- terrestrial
- Leaf arrangement:
- alternate
- Number of leaves on stem:
-
- two
- three
- four
- five
- Form of the labellum:
- the labellum is not pouch-like
- Labellum outline:
- the labellum is lobed
- Main color of labellum:
-
- green to brown
- pink to red
- Nectar spur:
- present
- Inflorescence type:
- the inflorescence is a raceme
- Labellum characteristics:
-
- the labellum has a spur
- the labellum is lobed
- Labellum length:
- 3–10 mm
- Sepal length:
- 3–8 mm
- Plant height:
- 6–80 cm
-
Flowers
- Floral bract length:
- 1–15 mm
- Flower petal color:
- green
- Flower symmetry:
- the flower is zygomorphic
- Flowering date:
-
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- Flowers per inflorescence:
- 5–35
- Form of the labellum:
- the labellum is not pouch-like
- Hairs on inflorescence axis:
- the inflorescence stem is hairless
- Inflorescence length:
- 50–200 mm
- Inflorescence type:
- the inflorescence is a raceme
- Labellum characteristics:
-
- the labellum has a spur
- the labellum is lobed
- Labellum length:
- 3–10 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
- pink to red
- Nectar spur:
- present
- Nectar spur length:
- 2–3 mm
- Number of stamens:
- 1
- Orientation of side petals:
- the lateral petals are ascending
- Self-pollinating flowers:
- there are no cleistogamous flowers
- Sepal length:
- 3–8 mm
- Spots on labellum:
- no
- Spur opening membrane:
- the spur opening is at least partially covered with a membrane
-
Fruits or seeds
- Fruit length:
- 7–14 mm
- Fruit width:
- 4–5 mm
- Seed capsule orientation:
- the capsule points upwards or outwards
-
Growth form
- Plant height:
- 6–80 cm
- Roots:
- the rhizomes are non-coralloid
- Underground organs:
-
- slender roots
- the plant has one or more swollen storage organs underground, such as bulbs, tubers or corms
- 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:
- 20–180 mm
- Leaf blade length to width ratio:
- 2–2.6
- Leaf blade shape:
-
- elliptic
- lanceolate
- oblanceolate
- obovate
- Leaf blade tip:
-
- the tip of the leaf blade is acute
- the tip of the leaf blade is obtuse
- Leaf blade width:
- 10–70 mm
- Leaves during flowering:
- leaves are present during flowering
- Number of leaves on stem:
-
- two
- three
- four
- five
-
Place
- Ecosystem type:
-
- bogs
- disturbed habitats
- fens
- forests
- meadows
- shrublands or thickets
- swamps
- tundra
- woodlands
- Habitat:
- terrestrial
- Location:
-
- Alaska
- Alberta
- Arizona
- British Columbia
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Manitoba
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Brunswick
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Ohio
- Ontario
- Pennsylvania
- Quebec
- Rhode Island
- Saskatchewan
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Yukon
-
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 | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Conservation status for: Alberta | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Alberta Rank | Secure |
Alberta Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | N/A |
Conservation status for: Alaska | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Alaska Rank | Apparently Secure |
Alaska Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative Wetland |
Conservation status for: British Columbia | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
British Columbia Rank | Secure |
British Columbia Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | N/A |
Conservation status for: Colorado | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Colorado Rank | N/A |
Colorado Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative Upland |
Conservation status for: Connecticut | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Connecticut Rank | N/A |
Connecticut Status | Endangered |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Iowa | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Iowa Rank | Watch List |
Iowa Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Illinois | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Illinois Rank | Highly State Rare |
Illinois Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Indiana | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Indiana Rank | N/A |
Indiana Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Kentucky | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Kentucky Rank | Presumed Extirpated |
Kentucky Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Massachusetts | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Massachusetts Rank | N/A |
Massachusetts Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Manitoba | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Manitoba Rank | Secure |
Manitoba Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | N/A |
Conservation status for: Maryland | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Maryland Rank | Highly State Rare |
Maryland Status | Endangered |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Maine | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Maine Rank | N/A |
Maine Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Michigan | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Michigan Rank | N/A |
Michigan Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Minnesota | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Minnesota Rank | N/A |
Minnesota Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Missouri | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Missouri Rank | N/A |
Missouri Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: New Brunswick | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
New Brunswick Rank | State Rare |
New Brunswick Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | N/A |
Conservation status for: North Carolina | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
North Carolina Rank | Possible Extirpated |
North Carolina Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative Upland |
Conservation status for: North Dakota | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
North Dakota Rank | N/A |
North Dakota Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative Upland |
Conservation status for: Nebraska | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Nebraska Rank | Highly State Rare |
Nebraska Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative Upland |
Conservation status for: New Hampshire | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
New Hampshire Rank | N/A |
New Hampshire Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: New Jersey | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
New Jersey Rank | N/A |
New Jersey Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Newfoundland and Labrador | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Newfoundland and Labrador Rank | Secure |
Newfoundland and Labrador Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | N/A |
Conservation status for: Nova Scotia | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Nova Scotia Rank | Secure |
Nova Scotia Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | N/A |
Conservation status for: Northwest Territories | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Northwest Territories Rank | N/A |
Northwest Territories Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | N/A |
Conservation status for: Nunavut | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Nunavut Rank | N/A |
Nunavut Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | N/A |
Conservation status for: New York | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
New York Rank | N/A |
New York Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Ohio | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Ohio Rank | Highly State Rare |
Ohio Status | Endangered |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Ontario | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Ontario Rank | Secure |
Ontario Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | N/A |
Conservation status for: Pennsylvania | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Pennsylvania Rank | Highly State Rare |
Pennsylvania Status | Endangered |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Quebec | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Quebec Rank | Secure |
Quebec Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | N/A |
Conservation status for: Rhode Island | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Rhode Island Rank | N/A |
Rhode Island Status | Threatened |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: South Dakota | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
South Dakota Rank | N/A |
South Dakota Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative Upland |
Conservation status for: Saskatchewan | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Saskatchewan Rank | N/A |
Saskatchewan Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | N/A |
Conservation status for: Tennessee | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Tennessee Rank | Highly State Rare |
Tennessee Status | Endangered |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Virginia | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Virginia Rank | N/A |
Virginia Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Vermont | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Vermont Rank | State Rare |
Vermont Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Wisconsin | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Wisconsin Rank | N/A |
Wisconsin Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: West Virginia | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
West Virginia Rank | N/A |
West Virginia Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative |
Conservation status for: Wyoming | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Wyoming Rank | State Rare |
Wyoming Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | Facultative Upland |
Conservation status for: Yukon | |
---|---|
Global Rank | Secure |
US Status | N/A |
Yukon Rank | State Rare |
Yukon Status | N/A |
Canadian Status | Secure |
Wetland Status | N/A |