Species Orchid, Isotria, Medeola-Like Isotria, Small Whorled Pogonia

EXTREMELY RARE ORCHID.

The small whorled pogonia is threatened by loss of forest habitat to residential development and ...Read Moreroads, trampling, grazing and closure of forest canopies. Many populations are vulnerable to extinction because of their small size.

Range: CT, DC, DE, GA, IL, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WV, OH

It was listed as endangered in 1982 and downlisted to "threatened" status in 1994. Known sites increased from 33 in 1985 to 150 in 2007.

This species is not nearly as showy as I. verticillata and is far rarer. It grows in open, deciduous forest from Maine and along the App...Read Morealachians. In Canada it is very rare, found only in southern Ontario. Plants produce a slender stem with a whorl of leaves at the top and from these leaves arise a short stem and a single greenish-yellow flower which never opens completely.