Rose Pogonia

Rose Pogonia - Small Wild Pink Orchid 

Rose Pogonia

The Rose Pogonia (Pogonia ophioglossoides) is a beautiful small pink orchid found in New Brunswick.   It grows in the eastern half of North America from Texas to Newfoundland.  It prefers very wet habitats, usually bogs and often is found growing on floating mats of vegetation.  It can be found in bogs, fens, marshes, meadows and swamps.  It prefers full sun and blooms from July to early August here in New Brunswick.  

Rose Pogonia Showing Typical Habitat

Rose Pogonia is sometimes called Snakemouth.  It grows 20 to 30 cm high (8 to 12 in) and from a distance is seen as light pink dots in thick vegetation.  The flower is small, about 2 cm long (3/4 in), light pink with yellow in the centre.  The single flower grows on the apex of a stem with one clasping leaf attached about halfway up.  There is a green bract just under the flower which can look like a leaf.  The sepals of this orchid are also light pink and look much like the petals.  

The flower of this orchid is known as 'irregular' (not radially symmetrical).  Its petals are dissimilar in shape, size and colour.  Its lower central petal is called a lip or labellum due to its lip shape.  It has a fringed edge, shows dark purple or deep pink mottling and has 3 rows of white and yellow, prominent hairs.  This feature distinguishes this small orchid from our two other small, pink, wild orchids; Arethusa bulbosa and Calopogon tuberosus.

Rose Pogonia Showing Bearded Lip

The Rose Pogonia is pollinated by bumblebees.  As the bee inserts its head into the flower looking for pollen and nectar, the pollen from the anthers of the plant stick to the bee's head.  The bee then transfers the pollen to the next orchid it visits.  The fruit of this plant is an upward-facing green capsule which turns light brown.  When it splits open it shows its tiny seeds.

Rose Pogonia

The Rose Pogonia got its name from Latin and its appearance.  The term 'pogonia' means 'beard'; 'ophio' means 'snake'; and 'glossa' means 'tongue'.  'Eidos' means 'like'.  So, a bearded plant with a snake-like tongue.  Another one of its common names is Adder's-mouth Pogonia which is a reference to Adder's Tongue Fern whose name is similarly derived.