Spathoglottis plicata Blume

Philippine Ground Orchid

Facts About

Accepted Synonyms: Bletia angustifolia, Paxtonia rosea

Spathoglottis plicata, commonly known as the Philippine Ground Orchid, is widely distributed in South East Asia and has escaped cultivation to become naturalized throughout the Caribbean, Florida, and Hawaii. This orchid has 4-7 pleated leaves that emerge from a pseudobulb surrounded by persistent fibrous leaf bases. The inflorescence has 8-27 magenta flowers that are resupinate. The labellum is strongly lobed and has bright yellow and pink markings. Naturalized plants often revert to a wild form, becoming self-pollinating with cleistogamous flowers. Capsules develop very quickly after pollination, making it common to see flowers and seedpods on the same plant. This orchid blooms in May through July in abandoned shellpits, pond shores, and woodlands.

The conservation status for Spathoglottis plicata has not been determined, but it is listed as an environmental weed in Hawaii that can be invasive in sensitive habitats.

Ecosystem Type

Grassland, meadows, 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 lobed
Main color of labellum:
  • blue to purple
  • pink to red
Inflorescence type:
the inflorescence is a raceme
Labellum characteristics:
the labellum is lobed
Labellum length:
14–18 mm
Sepal length:
15–20 mm
Plant height:
Up to 100 cm
Show All Characteristics

Native to North America

No

North American Conservation Status & Distribution

Conservation Status

Select a location to view conservation status:

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

North America Distribution

Adapted from USDA data