Western Heart-leaved Twayblade

Another of our native orchids, but one so small and with such tiny flowers that it is seldom noticed. The plant with its flower spikes is around six inches tall, though often smaller, and the individual flowers are a half an inch or less.

The plant can be found along many of the trails in our area, and often seems to be everywhere. We found these but a few plants on the grounds of the Au Sable Institute near Coupeville on Whidbey Island. It blooms all summer at different elevations.

The flowers range in color from green to a dark reddish-purple. These flowers are intermediate in color. The plant is named for the two opposite heart-shaped leaves that grow midway up the stem and which are more noticeable than the flowers.

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