Habitat: terrestrial in woodlands, typically on embankments overlooking streams, rivers, and lakes.
Common name: Crane-fly orchid
Blooming: July-August in Florida.
Comments: this terrestrial orchid makes a halting foray into northern Florida, typically in river systems that flow from further north into the state. The hibernal leaf, a semi-glossy green on top and varyingly purple on bottom, appears in the late fall (typically November in Florida) and persists through early spring (early March). The leaf measures up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) long on mature plants. The inflorescence appears in mid-summer, usually mid-late July around the Tallahassee, Florida area. While many plants will be seen in an area in the winter months, only an occasional blooming stem will be seen. The flowers are about .5 inch across (1.3 cm) and resemble a large mosquito or a small cranefly (hence the common name). An uncommon occurrence amongst the orchids, the flowers are asymmetrical (with the lip skewed one direction and the petals and dorsal sepal skewed the other).
