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Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Calopogon tuberosus (Tuberous grasspink)
Fannon, Carolyn

Calopogon tuberosus

Calopogon tuberosus (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.

Tuberous Grasspink, Grass Pink

Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CATU5

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)

Calopogon comes from the Greek words meaning "beautiful beard." The prominent hairs, the beard, on the lip identify it. This species is a plant of moist areas and is most abundant in pineland bogs. It is known as Grass Pink because of the long, narrow, grass-like leaves. It grows 2 1/2-4 feet tall, with 2 or more flowers arranged along the stem. The blossoms are rose-pink to pale orchid and are about 2 inches across (248).

This delicate, sweet-smelling orchid often springs from peat or sphagnum moss and is easily recognized by the bearded lip petal and solitary, grass-like leaf. Its genus name is derived from the Greek for "beautiful beard," and the species name is Latin for "tuberous." The former species, C. pulchellus, is now considered a variety, C. tuberosus var. tuberosus. Bearded Grass Pink (C. barbatus), found from North Carolina southward, has pink flowers that all open together, whereas the flowers of C. tuberosus open successively. Pale Grass Pink (C. pallidus), found from North Carolina south to Florida and west to Louisiana, has pale pink to whitish flowers and is smaller in all respects than C. tuberosus.

 

From the Image Gallery

34 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 4 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC
Native Distribution: Manitoba east to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to Kansas, Iowa, and Minnesota.
Native Habitat: Bogs and bog meadows and acidic, sandy or gravelly sites.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: OBL FACW OBL OBL OBL
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1989 VOL. 6, NO.2 - Wildflower Network Operates in Louisiana, Wildflower Handbook Published, Researc...

Additional resources

USDA: Find Calopogon tuberosus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Calopogon tuberosus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Calopogon tuberosus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-24
Research By: TWC Staff

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