large twayblade
Liparis liliifolia
The flowers are pollinated primarily by small flies, which are attracted to the nectar glistening on the orchid's wide, flat lip.
- Scientific name
- Liparis liliifolia
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Liliopsida › Asparagales › Orchidaceae › Liparis
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous and mixed forests, successional woodlands, and shaded slopes with rich humus.
- Diet
- Photosynthetic (autotrophic), supplemented by a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi for nutrient uptake.
- Range
- Eastern United States, Southeastern Canada, Appalachian Mountains, Midwest United States
- Size
- 10 to 25 cm tall with two large, glossy basal leaves up to 15 cm long.
- Lifespan
- Perennial (10+ years)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, over-browsing by white-tailed deer, and competition from invasive plant species.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and delicate. Observe from a distance to avoid trampling the fragile soil or the orchid's shallow root system. Do not pick or attempt to transplant; these orchids rely on specific soil fungi to survive and rarely survive relocation.
Liparis liliifolia , common name brown widelip orchid , is a species of orchids native to eastern Canada (Quebec and Ontario) and the eastern United States (the Appalachians, Ozarks, the Great Lakes Region and the Ohio and Upper Mississippi Valleys but not the southern coastal plains). Other common names include, lily-leaved twayblade , large twayblade and mauve sleekwort .
Photo: Nicholas Wei, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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