three birds orchid (Triphora trianthophoros) in Winneshiek County Iowa 653A4376
Most people avoid wandering around in the deep woods during late summer since they don't want to be eaten alive by hungry mosquitoes and stung by all the abundant nettles, but if you don't mind those minor bothers you can sometimes stumble across a few really neat flowers and fungi. This beautiful three birds orchid looks like a tiny snowflake floating above the sun-dappled forest floor. They grow in intimate association with mcyorrhizal fungi that supply them with food, and also seem to have ties with sugar maple trees here in Iowa (beech trees further east). Notice how the three white sepals resemble the white wings of a flying bird.
three birds orchid (Triphora trianthophoros) in Winneshiek County Iowa 653A4376
Most people avoid wandering around in the deep woods during late summer since they don't want to be eaten alive by hungry mosquitoes and stung by all the abundant nettles, but if you don't mind those minor bothers you can sometimes stumble across a few really neat flowers and fungi. This beautiful three birds orchid looks like a tiny snowflake floating above the sun-dappled forest floor. They grow in intimate association with mcyorrhizal fungi that supply them with food, and also seem to have ties with sugar maple trees here in Iowa (beech trees further east). Notice how the three white sepals resemble the white wings of a flying bird.