downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens) blooming in Winneshiek County IA 653A4581
This downy rattlesnake plantain is a fascinating plant in so many ways. First off, notice the very pretty but also very tiny pearlescent flowers tucked together toward the top of a downy supporting stalk. These uncommon woodland orchids form a symbiotic mycorrhizal relationship with certain fungi in the neighborhood so they share needed nutrients and minerals. The leaves of this downy rattlesnake plantain are even more amazing than the flowers and maybe I'll post a photo later this fall since they are evergreen. The photo won't be from this particular plant though since this flowering stage signals the swan song for the leaf cluster below and the plant as we know it here is sentenced to die when it finally blooms after living many years in a vegetative state.
downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens) blooming in Winneshiek County IA 653A4581
This downy rattlesnake plantain is a fascinating plant in so many ways. First off, notice the very pretty but also very tiny pearlescent flowers tucked together toward the top of a downy supporting stalk. These uncommon woodland orchids form a symbiotic mycorrhizal relationship with certain fungi in the neighborhood so they share needed nutrients and minerals. The leaves of this downy rattlesnake plantain are even more amazing than the flowers and maybe I'll post a photo later this fall since they are evergreen. The photo won't be from this particular plant though since this flowering stage signals the swan song for the leaf cluster below and the plant as we know it here is sentenced to die when it finally blooms after living many years in a vegetative state.