RHH's photos with the keyword: transversa

There are five species in the genus Piperia that can be found in Washington. They all have green to white flowers and in most, including this, the flowers are quite small. Not only are the flowers small in this case, however, but by the time the plant blooms the leaves have withered, so all one sees is a stem, about twelve inches tall, with these green and white flowers. This is the Flat-spurred Piperia, so-called not for the shape of its spur but for the fact that spur is at a ninety degree angle to the stem. Its botanical name is Piperia transversa. These were photographed at Dog Mountain in the Columbia River gorge. Towards the end of June I had the privilege of taking friends, a couple from Germany, on an three-day orchid tour of Washington. We started in the Columbia Gorge where I met them, worked out way up through eastern Washington and ended at several sites in western Washington, including Goat Mountain and Whidbey Island. We saw 15 species of orchids, a bit less than half of our native species and a very good number for any time of the year.

This is the Flat-spurred Piperia, the name referring more to the position of the spur rather than its shape. The plant is about a foot tall and the flowers approximately an inch long. These were photographed in Washington Park near Anacortes. nativeorchidsofthepacificnorthwest.blogspot.com/2011/07/f...

I posted one of two similar Piperias yesterday. Here is the other. The difference between the spurs is immediately obvious. This one, the Flat-spurred Piperia, has a spur (nectary) that is straight and horizontal. Though its colors are similar to those of the Long-spurred Piperia, the two flowers are very different on close examination. There are actually five Piperia species in Washington and the differences between them can be seen at the link below. nativeorchidsofthepacificnorthwest.blogspot.com/2012/10/w...

A few more photos of the Piperias at Goose Rock and then I'll move on to other things. These are the Flat-spurred Piperia, so-named not for the shape but the horizontal position of the spur or nectary. This nice group was photographed at the top of Goose Rock where they grow everywhere. ronaldhanko-orchidhunter.blogspot.com/2012/09/clayton-bea...