Triphora craigheadii Luer
Craighead's Noddingcaps
Facts About
There are no synonyms for this orchid.
Triphora craigheadii, commonly known as Craighead's Noddingcaps, is one of three endemic Florida orchids and restricted to a few sites in central Florida. The leaves of this small orchid are deep purple on the underside, and have an interesting ovate/cordate shape. The inflorescence has 1 to 3 white flowers suffused with purple and green that open at night and begin to close at noon. Triphora craigheadii blooms in late June to early July in deciduous and mixed damp woodlands.
Triphora craigheadii is considered critically imperiled. Habitat destruction and over-collecting pose a threat to this orchid's survival which has only three known occurrences in Florida.
Ecosystem Type
Forests, shrublands or thickets, woodlands
Characteristics
- Habitat:
- terrestrial
- Leaf arrangement:
- alternate
- Number of leaves on stem:
-
- one
- two
- three
- four
- Form of the labellum:
- the labellum is not pouch-like
- Labellum outline:
- the labellum is lobed
- Main color of labellum:
-
- blue to purple
- white
- Nectar spur:
- absent
- Inflorescence type:
- the inflorescence is a raceme
- Labellum characteristics:
- the labellum is lobed
- Labellum length:
- 5–6 mm
- Sepal length:
- Up to 6 mm
- Plant height:
- 4–8 cm
Native to North America
Yes
North American Conservation Status & Distribution
Conservation Status
| Conservation and Wetland Status | |
|---|---|
| Global Rank | Critically Imperiled |
| US Status | N/A |
| Canadian Status | N/A |