Hammarbya paludosa (L.) Kuntze

Bog Adder's Mouth, Bog Malaxis, Marsh Malaxis

Habit: Hammarbya paludosa. ~ By Tom Nelson. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Leaves: Hammarbya paludosa. ~ By Marilyn Barker. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~ ~ U. of Alaska

Flowers: Hammarbya paludosa. ~ By Tom Nelson. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Inflorescences: Hammarbya paludosa. ~ By David McAdoo. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Plant form: Hammarbya paludosa. ~ By Marilyn Barker. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~ ~ U. of Alaska

Facts About

Accepted Synonyms: Malaxis paludosa, Epipactis paludosa, Malaxis palustris, Ophrys paludosa, Ophrys palustris

Hammarbya paludosa, commonly known as Bog Adder's Mouth, is circumboreal, occurring in Alaska, Minnesota, Canada, Europe, and Asia. This small, inconspicuous plant grows in conifer swamps, wet coniferous forests, tundra, sphagnum bogs, mossy fens, and muskegs. The stem is swollen at the base into a round pseudobulb. Foliar embryos are produced at the tips of the two to five basal leaves. The long, narrow raceme has tiny, yellow greenish flowers. The sepals are bent backward, as are petals. The labellum is trowel-shaped, has dark green veins, and is positioned uppermost in the flower.

Hammarbya paludosa is considered globally secure although it does face threats in North America.

Pollination

This orchid is pollinated by Phronia digitata, a fungus gnat. After visiting the flower the observed fungus gnat had pollinia attached behind its mouthparts on the thorax. The fungus gnat may use it’s proboscis to go over the column to access nectar and acquires pollinia on its anterior ventral thorax. Pollen is then transferred to the stigma of the next flower visited.

Ecosystem Type

Bogs, fens, forests, swamps, tundra, woodlands

Characteristics

Habitat:: terrestrial

Leaf arrangement:: basal

Number of leaves on stem:: absent

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

Labellum outline:: the labellum is simple

Main color of labellum:

green to brown
yellow

Nectar spur:: absent

Inflorescence type:: the inflorescence is a raceme

Labellum characteristics:: the labellum is simple

Labellum length:: 1.2–1.8 mm

Sepal length:: 2–3 mm

Plant height:: 3–23 cm

Show All Characteristics

Flowers
Floral bract length:

1.4–3.3 mm
Flower petal color:
green

yellow
Flower symmetry:

the flower is zygomorphic
Flowering date:
June

July

August
Flowers per inflorescence:

2–55

Form of the labellum:

the labellum is not pouch-like

Hairs on inflorescence axis:

the inflorescence stem is hairless

Inflorescence length:

5–90 mm

Inflorescence type:

the inflorescence is a raceme

Labellum characteristics:

the labellum is simple

Labellum length:

1.2–1.8 mm

Labellum outline:

the labellum is simple

Labellum position:

the flowers are non-resupinate

Length of flower stalk:

2–3 mm

Lower petal strongly red-veined:

no
Main color of labellum:
green to brown

yellow
Nectar spur:

absent

Number of stamens:

1
Orientation of side petals:
the lateral petals are ascending

the lateral petals are spreading
Sepal length:

2–3 mm

Sepals fused only to sepals:

the sepals are separate from one another

Spots on labellum:

no

Spur opening membrane:

N/A

Spur opening shape:

N/A
Fruits or seeds

Fruit length:

4 mm

Fruit width:

2 mm

Seed capsule orientation:

the capsule points upwards or outwards
Growth form

Plant height:

3–23 cm

Roots:

the rhizomes are non-coralloid

Underground organs:

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:

the bract is shorter than the associated flower

Features of leaves:

N/A

Leaf arrangement:

basal

Leaf blade edges:

the leaf edges are entire

Leaf blade length:

3–35 mm

Leaf blade length to width ratio:

2.3–3

Leaf blade shape:

elliptic
Leaf blade tip:
the tip of the leaf blade is acute

the tip of the leaf blade is caudate

the tip of the leaf blade is obtuse
Leaf blade width:

1–15 mm

Leaves during flowering:

leaves are present during flowering

Number of leaves on stem:

absent
Place
Ecosystem type:
bogs

fens

forests

swamps

tundra

woodlands
Habitat:

terrestrial
Location:
Alaska

Alberta

British Columbia

Manitoba

Minnesota

Northwest Territories

Ontario

Saskatchewan

Yukon
Facts and Uses

Mycorrhiza

The orchid has no true roots and is dependent on fungi in its rhizome to obtain nutrients. The bulbils do not carry fungi from the mother plant and must be infected by the appropriate fungus in the soil in order to develop into a new plant.
In Europe, the fungal partner isolated from protocorms of this orchid has been identified as a member of the Tulasnella genus. Fungi in this genus are frequently associated with North American orchids.

Monitoring

Propagation

This orchid can also reproduce asexually. Foliar embryos arise directly from leaf tissue. When the leaf drops to the ground, each foliar embryo can grow into an new plant.

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	May Be At Risk

	Conservation status for: Alberta
Global Rank	Apparently Secure
US Status	N/A
Alberta Rank	State Rare
Alberta Status	N/A
Canadian Status	May Be At Risk
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Alaska
Global Rank	Apparently Secure
US Status	N/A
Alaska Rank	Apparently Secure
Alaska Status	N/A
Canadian Status	May Be At Risk
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: British Columbia
Global Rank	Apparently Secure
US Status	N/A
British Columbia Rank	Watch List
British Columbia Status	N/A
Canadian Status	May Be At Risk
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Manitoba
Global Rank	Apparently Secure
US Status	N/A
Manitoba Rank	State Rare
Manitoba Status	N/A
Canadian Status	May Be At Risk
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Minnesota
Global Rank	Apparently Secure
US Status	N/A
Minnesota Rank	Highly State Rare
Minnesota Status	Endangered
Canadian Status	May Be At Risk
Wetland Status	Obligate Wetland

	Conservation status for: Northwest Territories
Global Rank	Apparently Secure
US Status	N/A
Northwest Territories Rank	State Rare
Northwest Territories Status	N/A
Canadian Status	May Be At Risk
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Ontario
Global Rank	Apparently Secure
US Status	N/A
Ontario Rank	State Rare
Ontario Status	N/A
Canadian Status	May Be At Risk
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Saskatchewan
Global Rank	Apparently Secure
US Status	N/A
Saskatchewan Rank	State Rare
Saskatchewan Status	N/A
Canadian Status	May Be At Risk
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Yukon
Global Rank	Apparently Secure
US Status	N/A
Yukon Rank	Highly State Rare
Yukon Status	N/A
Canadian Status	May Be At Risk
Wetland Status	N/A

North America Distribution

Adapted from USDA data

Facts About

Pollination

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