Lifer!!! calling, literally a perfect animal, smaller than I expected
flipped
Attached to leaves of showy lady slipper, but forgot to photograph, but, see elsewhere in the batch. I was excited to see this pod from the previous year. I thought it might be a good reference for all who seek these larger orchids, as capsule keys are nearly nonexistent (I'm not aware of any). In a rich, calcareous fen with tamarack and black ash.
Unsure if this is a known population.
I've been checking out a few spots where this species may occur and got lucky, as I wasn't given coordinates or even a general area.
I counted about 7 plants in bud, with another 3 appearing to have just leaves. Location was a small hill slope just upland of a inundated swamp. Overstory consisted of Red Maple, White Pine, Yellow Birch and American Holly and various Oak species. Midstory shrubs included what appear to be Blueberry and Swamp Azalea as well as Greenbriar and Sawbriar (Smilax glauca). Cooccurring ground cover included a small white species of Violet, Coptis trifolia, Mitchella repens, Maianthemum canadense and Anemonoides quinquefolia.
I hiked five miles through the area and did not find any other populations.
Obscuring all other observations from the day. Will report site to DCR through portal.
Protruding lower jaw, lichen-like gray markings along the sides, narrow snout, and small head.
Bisexual inflorescence, terminal spike entirely staminate, perigynia pubescent without obvious teeth, spikes sessile, scales awnless place this in Acrocystis (Master Key to Carex in Sedges of Maine). Within Acrocystis, the key points to C. communis because the perigynium body is about as wide as long, and the widest leaf is >3mm wide (maybe 3.7mm). However, the perigynium beak is well over 1mm long, the carpellate scales are reddish brown, and the lowest proximal pistillate bract overtops the staminate spike, all of which are wrong for C. communis. Based on the perigynium shape, particularly the beak length, this is C. lucorum despite the wide leaf.
An amazing opportunity to observe such a cool species. No public access
Another slightly larger individual found downstream, didn't see any adults. Found along with larval and adult Eurycea in the both areas.