Calopogon - Small Pink Orchid

Calopogon - Our Third Small Pink Orchid 

Calopogon (Grass Pink)

Calopogon tuberosus (Grass Pink) is another of our three small pink orchids that can be found relatively easily in summer in New Brunswick.  The other two are Arethusa and Rose Pogonia.  See previous blog posts for information on those two.

Calopogon is listed as uncommon by Hinds but is locally common in many bogs in late June to early July.  It prefers to grow in sphagnous bogs and fens and can be found from Manitoba to Newfoundland south to Texas and Florida.  The flower is magenta-pink, 2.5 cm wide with an erect yellow-bearded lip at the top.  Its single basal leaf is grasslike, less than 2.5 cm broad.  There can be 2 to 10 flowers on a single raceme.    The plant is 20 to 30 cm tall (8 to 12 in).  

Calopogon (Grass Pink)

Along with the special lip the flower has 5 similar parts; 3 sepals and 2 side petals.  It has a pleasant sweet smell.  This species is unique in that the flower actually turns upside down as it develops.  Note the lip is uppermost which is the opposite to most orchids.  At some time during its development it slowly turns 180º.  It can easily be recognized by its bearded uppermost lip and its single grass-like leaf.  

Calopogon (Grass Pink)

Calopogon is named from the Greek for 'beautiful beard'.  Its specific name, 'tuberosus', is from the single tuber from which it grows.  Another similar species which grows in North Carolina, Calopogon barbatus, also has pink flowers but they all open at once.  The flowers of our native Calopogon open successively as seen in the photo above.  

Calopogon (Grass Pink)

We don't have any other orchid which turns itself upside down and the deep magenta-pink of this beautiful orchid is a delight to see.  Check one of our bogs early next summer and look for this small gem.