Cranefly orchid.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Difficile

Type de plante

Terrestrial orchid

Lumière

Dappled shade

Lumière en intérieur

Lumière faible

Arrosage

Tous les 7 à 14 jours

Taille adulte

15 to 20 inches

Croissance

Lente

Rusticité

USDA 6 à 9

Floraison

Mid to late summer

Entretien

Keep the soil moist during the winter growing season and allow for a dry dormant period in summer. Watch for leaf yellowing which often signals the start of the summer dormancy. Ensure the soil remains well drained to prevent the corm from rotting.

Arrosage

Keep the soil consistently moist while the leaf is present during fall and winter.

Engrais

Use a very dilute balanced fertilizer only during the active winter growing period.

Taille

Remove the dead flower stalk once it has completely withered after seed dispersal.

Rempotage

Only repot when the plant is fully dormant in mid summer to avoid damaging the roots.

Sol

Rich organic woodland soil

pH du sol

6.0 to 7.0

Température

-15 à 30°C

Humidité

50 à 80%

Sécurité

Humains

There is no evidence of significant toxicity, but it is not intended for human consumption.

Enfants

The plant is small and delicate, so it is best kept away from curious children who might pull at the leaves.

Comestibilité

This plant is not considered edible and should not be consumed.

Comment l'identifier

• Single leaf with purple underside
• Upper leaf surface often dark spotted
• Tall slender flower spike
• Small greenish brown flowers
• Corm like underground structure

Hauteur

0,2 à 0,5m

Envergure

0,1 à 0,2m

Feuilles

dark green, purple, deciduous

Fleurs

greenish brown, purple, 1 à 2cm

Fruits

brown, Autumn

Problèmes courants

• Slug damage — Slugs and snails may feed on the foliage during the cool winter months.

La cultiver

Multiplication

division, seed

Quand planter

autumn

Plant this orchid in a stable, undisturbed woodland setting where the soil fungi are already established.

Bonnes associations

• Christmas fern — It shares the same woodland floor habitat and provides a nice evergreen contrast.
• Asarum canadense — This low growing groundcover helps maintain the cool, moist soil conditions the orchid prefers.

Espèces similaires

• Aplectrum hyemale — It also features a single winter leaf and is another elusive woodland orchid.

Science

Famille

Orchidaceae

Genre

Tipularia

Ordre

Asparagales

Classe

Liliopsida

Région d'origine

Southeastern United States

Préservation

It is considered rare in parts of its northern range and should never be collected from the wild.

It thrives in rich, moist deciduous forests where it forms symbiotic relationships with soil fungi.

Intérêt pour la faune

specialized nocturnal pollination

Pollinisateurs

papillons de nuit

Utilisations

woodland garden specimen, native plant collection

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Why does my plant disappear in summer?

The plant is dormant during the summer months and only produces a flower spike.

Can I grow this in a pot?

It is very difficult to maintain in containers due to its specific fungal requirements.

D'où vient le nom

Tipularia comes from the Latin word for a cranefly, referring to the flower shape, while discolor highlights the two-toned leaf.

Bon à savoir

• The species name discolor refers to the two different colors of the leaf, which is green on top and purple underneath.
• It is commonly called the cranefly orchid because the flowers look like tiny insects.
• This orchid relies on a specific mycorrhizal fungus in the soil to survive.
• It is notoriously difficult to cultivate outside of its native woodland habitat.

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• Plantes d'ombre