Pteroglossaspis ecristata (Spiked Medusa orchid or Crestless Plume orchid)

More orchids from our weekend trip to the Francis Marion National Forest. Finding some of these in bloom was a surprise, since I didn't think they would be in bloom yet. A couple of these were new finds for some of the out of towners in the group. I'm really pleased that I could take them to a place with such a variety of wild orchids...

This is a very rare orchid because of its growth requirements. It also need a periodic burn of the forest to bloom from year to year... If the flowers appear to be rather odd -- they are! They never fully open, and I had to take this shot from underneath the flowers...