Tangled Branches: Cultivated
happenings in and around my zone 6b gardens in northern Virginia and in central Virginia
Monday, January 28, 2008
Cranefly Orchid
Wild orchids! I was so excited to find this foliage, then so disappointed to find out what the flowers look like.
Tipularia discolor is known as the Cranefly Orchid, presumably because the flowers look like craneflies? Nothing like big beautiful tropical orchids, or even some of our showier native orchids - just a brownish-purplish stalk with small greenish-brownish-purplish flowers. Perfect for making itself invisible in the woods.
I'm not sure what made me think orchid when I saw this. I was in the midst of whacking down greenbriar where it had resprouted after last winter's whackage; happened to look down and there it was. If it was growing there before last winter, it would have been impossible to see because it was right in the middle of one of the biggest greenbriar tangles. This past summer, I was busy with the vegetable garden and didn't venture into the woods much, but I need to put a reminder on my calendar to go look for the flowers later this year.
Updated January 30: I discovered after I posted this that it fit in with the Week 2 Theme of Elizabeth Joy's Wildflowers in Winter. Visit her to find out what other wildflower fans are doing to mark time until spring.
Labels: orchids, wildflowers
8 Comments:
Those are interesting-looking leaves, although the flower is nondescript.
When I saw Wild Orchids, I bolted over here - I have Orchids on the brain!
Kate: I think I really need some tropical orchids to get over my disappointment here!
Yes! That is the only way - a new orchid would go far getting over the disappointment of the Cranefly.
I'm saving my pennies for another orchid. Get one and then lust after another!!
This would be an excellent post for Wildflowers in Winter. Why don't you just link it in as week 2, add a mention of Wildflowers in Winter, and the link and then you will be included in the drawing. I've never seen this flower before. And it will be great to include you in other weeks too.
Cool...very cool, I love orchids showy or not. They are such a fascinating flower. I am fascinated by flowers that mimic other organisms.
I'm curious about it's summer? spring? bloom.
This winter flower walk is so enjoyable.
I also wonder what it looks like in it's prime. Hmmmm. I think I'll research this/ '-)
http://onthewildside24.blogspot.com/
Kate: I looked at orchids today at the garden center, but there were so many I couldn't make up my mind, and I came home with vegetable seeds instead.
Elizabeth Joy: Done! (At least I think I've done it correctly.) I'm working on Week 3.
MJD: I'll be interested to see if the flowers really do resemble craneflies.
Pamela: I think it blooms in summer, but I haven't actually seen it in bloom. This summer will only be our second one there; I missed it last summer.
Dirty Knees: This site has a couple of nice pictures. One of the flower in summer, and one of the dead flower stalks and green leaves (the way mine looks now).
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