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McAdoo, David R.

Listera convallarioides

Listera convallarioides (Sw.) Nutt. ex Elliott

Broadlipped Twayblade, Broadleaf Twayblade

Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)

Synonym(s): Ophrys convallarioides

USDA Symbol: LICO5

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

A little plant with a pair of leaves at midstem below a slender raceme of about 20 small, green, bilaterally symmetrical flowers.

Broadleaf Twayblade also occurs in Asia. The small green flowers attract little insects. When the insect enters the flower, it trips a mechanism that fires a spot of pollen that sticks to the insect and is carried by it to another flower, thus facilitating pollination. There are three other species in the West with the characteristic pair of leaves at midstem, but none with sepals and upper petals sharply bent backward.

From the Image Gallery

1 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 14 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow , Green
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: Sometimes tinged purple.

Distribution

USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , ID , ME , MI , MN , MT , NE , NH , NV , NY , OR , SD , TN , UT , VT , WA , WI , WY
Canada: AB , BC , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC
Native Habitat: Moist woods.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
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

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-25
Research By: TWC Staff

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