The Fen Orchid, Liparis loeselii, has a scattered distribution from northeast through Southern Ohio. It is noticeably absent from the far western counties and most of Southeast Ohio, though it was recently spotted in Vinton County. (Photo Courtesy of AOA)
(Editor’s Note: This information was provided by the Appalachian Ohio Alliance and involves nature-related information involving Vinton County.)
There are two species of the genus Liparis native to Ohio. The Large Twayblade, Liparis liliifolia, is the more common of the two. It grows in mesic forests throughout Eastern and Southern Ohio. The other species, the Fen Orchid, Liparis loeselii, has a scattered distribution from northeast through Southern Ohio. It is noticeably absent from the far western counties and most of Southeast Ohio.
This makes sense when you consider that it likes to grow in moist to mesic woodlands and wetlands, usually with a bit of lime in the soil. Since Hocking County has no naturally occurring limestone, for years there was only one known population of this species. Ken Mettler, Board member with the Appalachia Ohio Alliance (AOA) has since found two more in Hocking County, both growing near roadways and driveways where crushed limestone was used.
“From all the botanical records I’ve been able to find, L. loeselii has never been found in Vinton County. Until now,” Mettler says.
During a June 21, 2020 hike in the Bison Hollow Nature Preserve, which straddles the Hocking/Vinton County line, he found four species of orchids. Mettler says he is averaging almost one new species of orchid each time he goes to Bison Hollow.
“In an opening in the woods, I found a population of Tall Green Milkweed (Asclepias hirtella), one of my favorite milkweeds. I’ve nicknamed this site the milkweed prairie,” Mettler explains. “I found Large Twayblades in the woods nearby. These were juvenile plants, not yet blooming. A little farther into the woods I found a Liparis plant with a stem of seed pods. This one caught my eye for several reasons. While both species bloom in late May and early June, and should set seed pods by this time, their pollination mechanisms are totally different. L. liliifolia is insect pollinated, probably by mosquitoes. See, they are good for something!”
L. loeselii is a self-pollinating species. The flowers point upward at about a 45-degree angle, and the lip is funnel-shaped. It is thought that they may be rain assisted pollinators. A raindrop that lands on the lip splashes up against the column, jostling the antheridia into contact with the stigmatic surface. For this reason, L. loeselii can set a large number of seed pods, while Mettler says he rarely finds more than four pods on a stem of L. liliifolia.
“The plant I found had seven pods on the five-inch stem,” he continued. “It was slightly smaller than most blooming plants of L. liliifolia, and the leaves were proportionately narrower, and just a shade lighter green than L. liliifolia. Good clues, but these characteristics can all overlap between the two species. I would have to see it in bloom for a positive identification.”
So, on June 6, 2021, Mettler headed back to Bison Hollow. Finding a five-inch plant in 250 acres of greenery can be a little bit daunting, but he knew where it was in relation to the milkweed prairie, and the year prior, he had strategically placed some flagging tape on a nearby tree. Nearby were Rattlesnake Plantains (Goodyera pubescens), Ragged Fringed Orchids (Platanthera lacera), and the large Twayblades (L. liliifolia) that he had found the previous year.
“And then I found my plant. It had grown two inflorescences, but the larger one had been damaged, and did not bloom,” Mettler explains. “I found a few mealy bugs on the plant, which may have caused the bloom failure. Fortunately, there was the smaller inflorescence with one open flower and two buds. Not a very good blooming, but enough to positively identify the species. L. loeselii has light green upturned flowers, while L. Liliifolia has liver-colored flowers that emerge horizontally from the stem. A photograph and GPS location were later sent to ODNR (Ohio Department of Natural Resources) to document this find.”
To read Mettler’s full article, visit appalachiaohioalliance.org.
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