Native Plants
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Thursday - July 02, 2015
From: Houston, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Native orchids in Bowie and Harris Counties
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I was wondering what types of orchids are native to Bowie County and Harris County.ANSWER:
According to the USDA Plants Database these are the native orchid species that occur in Bowie County:
(* indicates that the species occurs in both Bowie and Harris Counties)
Corallorhiza wisteriana (Spring coralroot) *
Listera australis (Southern twayblade) *
Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid)
Platanthera clavellata (Small green wood orchid) *
Platanthera lacera (Green fringed orchid)
Spiranthes cernua (Nodding ladies' tresses orchid) *
Spiranthes laciniata (Lacelip lady's tresses) *
Spiranthes odorata (Marsh lady's tresses)
Spiranthes tuberosa (Little lady's tresses) *
Spiranthes vernalis (Spring lady's tresses) *
Here are the native orchid species that occur in Harris County according to the USDA Plants Database:
Calopogon oklahomensis (Oklahoma grasspink)
Corallorhiza wisteriana (Spring coralroot) *
Hexalectris spicata (Spiked crested coralroot)
Listera australis (Southern twayblade) *
Malaxis unifolia (Green adder's-mouth orchid)
Platanthera clavellata (Small green wood orchid) *
Platanthera cristata (Crested yellow orchid)
Platanthera flava (Palegreen orchid)
Platanthera flava var. flava (Palegreen orchid)
Platanthera nivea (Snowy orchid)
Spiranthes brevilabris (Texas lady's tresses)
Spiranthes cernua (Nodding ladies' tresses orchid) *
Spiranthes lacera (Northern slender lady's tresses)
Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis (Northern slender lady's tresses)
Spiranthes laciniata (Lacelip lady's tresses) *
Spiranthes ovalis (October lady's tresses)
Spiranthes praecox (Greenvein lady's tresses)
Spiranthes tuberosa (Little lady's tresses) *
Spiranthes vernalis (Spring lady's tresses) *
There is one introduced non-native orchid (from Asia) shown for Harris County. It is Zeuxine strateumatica (Soldier's orchid).
Here are two books that are focused on Texas orchids that you might find interesting and useful. Both have descriptions, distribution information as well as beautiful photos and illustrations.
- Wild Orchids of Texas by Joe and Ann Orto Liggio. 1999. University of Texas Press.
- Field Guide to the Wild Orchids of Texas by Paul Martin Brown.
Below are photographs of the 7 species found in both counties and a few photos of some of the more spectacular orchids found in one or the other of the two counties.
From the Image Gallery
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