Triphora trianthophoros (Sw.) Rydb.

Three Birds Orchid

Habit: Triphora trianthophoros. ~ By Gary Van Velsir. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Flowers: Triphora trianthophoros. ~ By Gary Van Velsir. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Inflorescences: Triphora trianthophoros. ~ By Gary Van Velsir. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Plant form: Triphora trianthophoros. ~ By Gary Van Velsir. ~ Copyright © 2024. ~

Protocorm: Triphora trianthophoros. ~ By Jamie Pullen. ~ Copyright © 2024 Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. ~

Facts About

Accepted Synonyms: Pogonia trianthophoros, Arethusa trianthophoros

Triphora trianthophoros, commonly called Three Birds Orchid, is distributed in the central and eastern United States, from Texas to Maine, and north into Ontario. It produces 2-6 small leaves on its purplish green stem, and bears up to 4 pink or rarely white flowers that last for only a few days. The labellum is three-lobed and has three green ridges in the center. It is found in dry to mesic forests, woodlands, thickets, and occasionally in swamps.

Triphora trianthophoros is considered globally vulnerable, and it is rare throughout much of its range. It may persist as subterranean tuberoids for long periods, complicating census and conservation efforts.

Pollination

This orchid is pollinated by many different insects including; Augochlora pura, Ceratina dupla, Lasioglossum cressonii, Lasioglossum illinoense, Lasioglossum macoupinense, Lasioglossum obscurum, Lasioglossum quebecense, Lasioglossum versans and species of Bombus and Sphecodes. Pollination occurs when the bee follows the ultraviolet nectar guides and enters the floral tube in search of nectar. To reach the nectar at the base of the labellum, the bee crawls under the column. As the bee leaves it likely ruptures the rostellar membrane and pollinaria become attached to the hairs of the dorsal thorax. The bee, with pollinia attached, visits another flower and transfers the pollen to the stigma.

Ecosystem Type

Forests, shrublands or thickets, woodlands

Characteristics

Habitat:: terrestrial

Leaf arrangement:: alternate

Number of leaves on stem:

two
three
four
five
six

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

Labellum outline:: the labellum is lobed

Main color of labellum:

pink to red
white

Nectar spur:: absent

Inflorescence type:

the inflorescence has one flower or a pair of flowers
the inflorescence is a raceme

Labellum characteristics:: the labellum is lobed

Labellum length:: 8–20 mm

Sepal length:: 11–15 mm

Plant height:: 7–30 cm

Show All Characteristics

Flowers
Flower petal color:
pink

white
Flower symmetry:

the flower is zygomorphic
Flowering date:
July

August

September

October

November

Triphora trianthophoros may bloom as early as July in the north and as late as November in the south.
Flowers per inflorescence:

1–6

Form of the labellum:

the labellum is not pouch-like

Hairs on flower stalk:

the pedicel is hairless

Hairs on inflorescence axis:

the inflorescence stem is hairless
Inflorescence type:
the inflorescence has one flower or a pair of flowers

the inflorescence is a raceme
Labellum characteristics:

the labellum is lobed

Labellum length:

8–20 mm

Labellum outline:

the labellum is lobed

Labellum position:

the flowers are resupinate

Length of flower stalk:

Up to 15 mm

Length of narrowed base of lower petal:

Up to 8 mm

Lower petal strongly red-veined:

no
Main color of labellum:
pink to red

white
Nectar spur:

absent

Number of stamens:

1

Orientation of side petals:

the lateral petals are ascending

Pollen sacs:

the pollinia remain intact and do not fragment into smaller parts

Self-pollinating flowers:

there are no cleistogamous flowers

Sepal length:

11–15 mm

Sepals fused only to sepals:

the sepals are separate from one another

Spots on labellum:

no
Fruits or seeds
Fruit length:

10–15 mm

Fruit width:

5–10 mm
Seed capsule orientation:
the capsule bends downwards

the capsule points upwards or outwards
Growth form
Plant height:

7–30 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:

the bract is shorter than the associated flower

Features of leaves:

the underside of the leaf is strongly tinted with purple

Leaf arrangement:

alternate

Leaf blade edges:

the leaf edges are entire

Leaf blade length:

7–20 mm

Leaf blade shape:

ovate
Leaf blade tip:
the tip of the leaf blade is acuminate

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

4–10 mm

Leaves during flowering:

leaves are present during flowering
Number of leaves on stem:
two

three

four

five

six
Place
Ecosystem type:
forests

shrublands or thickets

woodlands
Habitat:

terrestrial
Location:
Alabama

Arkansas

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Mississippi

Missouri

Nebraska

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oklahoma

Ontario

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Vermont

Virginia

West Virginia

Wisconsin
Facts and Uses

Mycorrhiza

Monitoring

Propagation

Restoration

Native to North America

Yes

North American Conservation Status & Distribution

Conservation Status

Select a location to view conservation status:

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

	Conservation status for: Alabama
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Alabama Rank	N/A
Alabama Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Wetland

	Conservation status for: Arkansas
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Arkansas Rank	N/A
Arkansas Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: Connecticut
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Connecticut Rank	N/A
Connecticut Status	Endangered
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: District of Columbia
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
District of Columbia Rank	N/A
District of Columbia Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Upland

	Conservation status for: Delaware
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Delaware Rank	N/A
Delaware Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Upland

	Conservation status for: Florida
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Florida Rank	Watch List
Florida Status	Threatened
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Wetland

	Conservation status for: Georgia
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Georgia Rank	Highly State Rare
Georgia Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Wetland

	Conservation status for: Iowa
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Iowa Rank	Watch List
Iowa Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: Illinois
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Illinois Rank	Watch List
Illinois Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: Indiana
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Indiana Rank	N/A
Indiana Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: Kansas
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Kansas Rank	Highly State Rare
Kansas Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: Kentucky
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Kentucky Rank	N/A
Kentucky Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: Louisiana
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Louisiana Rank	Highly State Rare
Louisiana Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Wetland

	Conservation status for: Massachusetts
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Massachusetts Rank	N/A
Massachusetts Status	Endangered
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: Maryland
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Maryland Rank	Highly State Rare
Maryland Status	Endangered
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Upland

	Conservation status for: Maine
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Maine Rank	State Rare
Maine Status	Threatened
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: Michigan
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Michigan Rank	Highly State Rare
Michigan Status	Threatened
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: Missouri
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Missouri Rank	N/A
Missouri Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: Mississippi
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Mississippi Rank	Highly State Rare
Mississippi Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Wetland

	Conservation status for: North Carolina
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
North Carolina Rank	Highly State Rare
North Carolina Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Wetland

	Conservation status for: Nebraska
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Nebraska Rank	N/A
Nebraska Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: New Hampshire
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
New Hampshire Rank	State Rare
New Hampshire Status	Threatened
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: New Jersey
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
New Jersey Rank	N/A
New Jersey Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Upland

	Conservation status for: New York
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
New York Rank	State Rare
New York Status	Threatened
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Upland

	Conservation status for: Ohio
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Ohio Rank	State Rare
Ohio Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: Oklahoma
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Oklahoma Rank	Highly State Rare
Oklahoma Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: Ontario
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Ontario Rank	State Rare
Ontario Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	N/A

	Conservation status for: Pennsylvania
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Pennsylvania Rank	N/A
Pennsylvania Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Upland

	Conservation status for: South Carolina
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
South Carolina Rank	Highly State Rare
South Carolina Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Wetland

	Conservation status for: Tennessee
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Tennessee Rank	N/A
Tennessee Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: Texas
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Texas Rank	N/A
Texas Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Wetland

	Conservation status for: Vermont
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Vermont Rank	Highly State Rare
Vermont Status	Threatened
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: Wisconsin
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
Wisconsin Rank	State Rare
Wisconsin Status	Species of Concern
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Facultative Upland

	Conservation status for: West Virginia
Global Rank	Vulnerable
US Status	N/A
West Virginia Rank	N/A
West Virginia Status	N/A
Canadian Status	Endangered
Wetland Status	Upland

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