Isotria verticillata

A couple of plants with seed capsules. Isotria verticillata (Large whorled pogonia) has been reported from almost every state east of the Mississippi River. Having said that, it is quite scattered in its occurrence. It can be easily confused with another much more rare orchid species, Isotria medeoloides (Small whorled pogonia orchid), and the common Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber root). Each of these species have whorled leaves. Recently, I was lucky enough to meet someone who knows of a large population of this orchid species relatively close to my home. This population is in an old cemetery, and appears to have been undisturbed for many years. As I write this, the flowers are in seed, and I can hardly wait until next spring when I can photograph this wonderful orchid in bloom...

Seed capsule. Isotria verticillata (Large whorled pogonia) has been reported from almost every state east of the Mississippi River. Having said that, it is quite scattered in its occurrence. It can be easily confused with another much more rare orchid species, Isotria medeoloides (Small whorled pogonia orchid), and the common Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber root). Each of these species have whorled leaves. Recently, I was lucky enough to meet someone who knows of a large population of this orchid species relatively close to my home. This population is in an old cemetery, and appears to have been undisturbed for many years. As I write this, the flowers are in seed, and I can hardly wait until next spring when I can photograph this wonderful orchid in bloom...

Seed capsule. Isotria verticillata (Large whorled pogonia) has been reported from almost every state east of the Mississippi River. Having said that, it is quite scattered in its occurrence. It can be easily confused with another much more rare orchid species, Isotria medeoloides (Small whorled pogonia orchid), and the common Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber root). Each of these species have whorled leaves. Recently, I was lucky enough to meet someone who knows of a large population of this orchid species relatively close to my home. This population is in an old cemetery, and appears to have been undisturbed for many years. As I write this, the flowers are in seed, and I can hardly wait until next spring when I can photograph this wonderful orchid in bloom...

Several plants with seed capsules. Isotria verticillata (Large whorled pogonia) has been reported from almost every state east of the Mississippi River. Having said that, it is quite scattered in its occurrence. It can be easily confused with another much more rare orchid species, Isotria medeoloides (Small whorled pogonia orchid), and the common Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber root). Each of these species have whorled leaves. Recently, I was lucky enough to meet someone who knows of a large population of this orchid species relatively close to my home. This population is in an old cemetery, and appears to have been undisturbed for many years. As I write this, the flowers are in seed, and I can hardly wait until next spring when I can photograph this wonderful orchid in bloom...

This shot shows some of the many hundreds of orchid plants in this population. Isotria verticillata (Large whorled pogonia) has been reported from almost every state east of the Mississippi River. Having said that, it is quite scattered in its occurrence. It can be easily confused with another much more rare orchid species, Isotria medeoloides (Small whorled pogonia orchid), and the common Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber root). Each of these species have whorled leaves. Recently, I was lucky enough to meet someone who knows of a large population of this orchid species relatively close to my home. This population is in an old cemetery, and appears to have been undisturbed for many years. As I write this, the flowers are in seed, and I can hardly wait until next spring when I can photograph this wonderful orchid in bloom...

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This morning, Walter Ezell and I met Keith Bradley in Brevard, North Carolina to photograph a couple of early orchid species. What with the heavy rain that is predicted for the next five days, we decided that even if we were a bit early, we would be happy to see what was in bloom. Isotria verticillata is one orchid species that I last photographed eight or nine years ago, and I was very excited to see it in bloom today. To read more about this trip and see additional images, please go to Jim's Blog ...

This morning, Walter Ezell and I met Keith Bradley in Brevard, North Carolina to photograph a couple of early orchid species. What with the heavy rain that is predicted for the next five days, we decided that even if we were a bit early, we would be happy to see what was in bloom. Isotria verticillata is one orchid species that I last photographed eight or nine years ago, and I was very excited to see it in bloom today. To read more about this trip and see additional images, please go to Jim's Blog ...

This morning, Walter Ezell and I met Keith Bradley in Brevard, North Carolina to photograph a couple of early orchid species. What with the heavy rain that is predicted for the next five days, we decided that even if we were a bit early, we would be happy to see what was in bloom. Isotria verticillata is one orchid species that I last photographed eight or nine years ago, and I was very excited to see it in bloom today. To read more about this trip and see additional images, please go to Jim's Blog ...

This morning, Walter Ezell and I met Keith Bradley in Brevard, North Carolina to photograph a couple of early orchid species. What with the heavy rain that is predicted for the next five days, we decided that even if we were a bit early, we would be happy to see what was in bloom. Isotria verticillata is one orchid species that I last photographed eight or nine years ago, and I was very excited to see it in bloom today. To read more about this trip and see additional images, please go to Jim's Blog ...

This morning, Walter Ezell and I met Keith Bradley in Brevard, North Carolina to photograph a couple of early orchid species. What with the heavy rain that is predicted for the next five days, we decided that even if we were a bit early, we would be happy to see what was in bloom. Isotria verticillata is one orchid species that I last photographed eight or nine years ago, and I was very excited to see it in bloom today. To read more about this trip and see additional images, please go to Jim's Blog ...

This morning, Walter Ezell and I met Keith Bradley in Brevard, North Carolina to photograph a couple of early orchid species. What with the heavy rain that is predicted for the next five days, we decided that even if we were a bit early, we would be happy to see what was in bloom. Isotria verticillata is one orchid species that I last photographed eight or nine years ago, and I was very excited to see it in bloom today. To read more about this trip and see additional images, please go to Jim's Blog ...

This morning, Walter Ezell and I met Keith Bradley in Brevard, North Carolina to photograph a couple of early orchid species. What with the heavy rain that is predicted for the next five days, we decided that even if we were a bit early, we would be happy to see what was in bloom. Isotria verticillata is one orchid species that I last photographed eight or nine years ago, and I was very excited to see it in bloom today. To read more about this trip and see additional images, please go to Jim's Blog ...

This morning, Walter Ezell and I met Keith Bradley in Brevard, North Carolina to photograph a couple of early orchid species. What with the heavy rain that is predicted for the next five days, we decided that even if we were a bit early, we would be happy to see what was in bloom. Isotria verticillata is one orchid species that I last photographed eight or nine years ago, and I was very excited to see it in bloom today. To read more about this trip and see additional images, please go to Jim's Blog ...

This morning, Walter Ezell and I met Keith Bradley in Brevard, North Carolina to photograph a couple of early orchid species. What with the heavy rain that is predicted for the next five days, we decided that even if we were a bit early, we would be happy to see what was in bloom. Isotria verticillata is one orchid species that I last photographed eight or nine years ago, and I was very excited to see it in bloom today. To read more about this trip and see additional images, please go to Jim's Blog ...

This morning, Walter Ezell and I met Keith Bradley in Brevard, North Carolina to photograph a couple of early orchid species. What with the heavy rain that is predicted for the next five days, we decided that even if we were a bit early, we would be happy to see what was in bloom. Isotria verticillata is one orchid species that I last photographed eight or nine years ago, and I was very excited to see it in bloom today. To read more about this trip and see additional images, please go to Jim's Blog ...

This morning, Walter Ezell and I met Keith Bradley in Brevard, North Carolina to photograph a couple of early orchid species. What with the heavy rain that is predicted for the next five days, we decided that even if we were a bit early, we would be happy to see what was in bloom. Isotria verticillata is one orchid species that I last photographed eight or nine years ago, and I was very excited to see it in bloom today. To read more about this trip and see additional images, please go to Jim's Blog ...