Wild Orchids of Northern Ontario

Throughout the Temagami area, in a few select locations, can be found several species of rare wild orchids that are native to northern Ontario. Growth is noticeable after the last dangers of a spring frost have passed and the flowers of some species will begin to bloom in late May while others start in late August and continue through September. The best bloom time can vary by up to a couple weeks, depending mainly on spring's arrival time which varies each year. Also, not every species will bloom every year which I can only suspect is dependant upon a perfect combination of sunlight, temperature and precipitation.

In 2005, I had positively identified seven different species of native northern orchids and at that time, I was certain that there are at least five more orchids that would be located in future field trips in coming years if the growth conditions were ideal for those select species.

In the summer of 2006, I found two more species that were not part of the previous year's list of suspected orchids: the Bog Orchid was first observed on July 13 and then the Rein Orchid was found on July 19. On July 23, I found several of the club spur orchids (one of the suspected five other orchids) which had not been visible a few days earlier. This brings the total identified species of orchids in the Temagami area to ten, as of today. The search continues for the other four.

It's spring, 2007. I have literally stumbled upon another new (to me) species of orchids today, June 9. While searching (without any luck) for a couple of different species that are reportedly in the area, I  located a small but rather dense patch of Early Coralroot orchids. Three more species to go.

It is now July 3 and new species of orchids appear every time I get a chance to explore the forest. Exquisite in both size and fragrance, the Showy Lady's Slipper was very obvious in places that I've never seen it before. An unpredictable orchid, it can lay dormant for up to 4 or 5 years before suddenly appearing in thick masses. It was known to be one of the "usual suspects". An unexpected find, growing amongst the countless Lady's Slippers, was the new-to-me White Adder's Mouth Orchid. Thirteen down and still 2 known species to locate.

Two more unknown orchids were located on July 8, 2007. After close examination, they were identified as the Heart Leaved Twayblade (at 3 inches tall) and the Menzies' Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid. The latter was first believed to be a Checkered Rattlesnake with poor leaf markings but was soon distinguished from its close relative. On July 24, 2007 another new orchid was located which was determined to be a Lesser Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid with its distinctive "snake-skin" pattern leaves. Also noted at this time were budding Helleborine orchids which were photographed in early August. This brings the total to 17 identified species of native northern wild orchids. There are still two species known to grow in the Temagami area that I have not been able to locate. Maybe next year.

A word of advice for guests wishing to photograph these flowers: be prepared to get wet! Orchids characteristically grow in floating peat bogs, fens, swamps and marshes as well as in other low laying wet soil conditions. Knee high rubber boots or a very old pair of running shoes are the preferred footwear for these excursions. Only a few select species can live on drier ground such as those found on forest floors. Insect repellant is a necessity during May and June and is optional during the remainder of the summer.

It is imperative that extreme caution be taken while photographing these delicate plants so as not to inflict any harm to the plant, its root system or any other flora in the immediate area.

The orchids that I have identified are as follows:

The Blunt Leaf Rein Orchid (Platanthera obtusata) is a very small and well camouflaged orchid and one of the few known to be pollinated by mosquitoes. Extremely rare, it is found in drier soils close to cold water fens and in proximity to the shade from white cedars, black spruce and occasionally, mixed white birch stands. It grows among other acid rich soils of low and trailing plants such as wintergreen, twinflower and creeping snowberry. At 2 to 8" (5 to 20 cm.), it has a smooth stalk, one leaf on the ground and 3 to 8 pale green flowers from early to late July.

The Lesser Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid (Goodyera ripens) has a distinctively different basal leaf group than either the Menzie's or Checkered Rattlesnake Orchids but mostly resembles the pattern of a snake's skin. It also prefers a much damper "cold bottom" location than these other two. At a maximum height of 4 to 6" or 10 to15 cm., it is the smallest of the Rattlesnakes. Small white hairy flowers tinged in green or brownish-pink appear from mid July through mid August. It is found in cool sphagnum moss under spruce or cedar trees and near Rein Orchids and Heart Leaved Twayblades.

The Club Spur Orchid (Platanthera clavellata) is easily identified by the club-shaped spur of this small unassuming orchid (height of 4 to 10" or 10 to 25 cm.) that thrives in large colonies in acid soils of sphagnum moss, white cedar, black spruce and tamarack trees. A single leaf, half way up the stem and a few smaller leaflets farther up combined with a bright green-yellow flower head also make it easy to see. It's neighbors includes the sundews, pitcher plants and occasionally the Pink Lady's Slipper. The horizontal flowers on each stem can be seen from mid July through mid August.

The Checkered Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid (Goodyera tesselata) is a late blooming flower found in dry acidic soils consisting of decaying pine and/or spruce needles in old growth forests. The checkered leaves are a mix of light and dark bluish-green and usually appear in groups of four that surround a short hairy stalk of the same color. The cluster of very tiny greenish/bluish/white flowers appear in late July through early September. It is 1 to 2" (3 to 5cm.) wide and only 4 to 8" (10 to 20 cm.) tall. Plentiful in some years, it is a sporadic orchid that may not appear again for two to four years.

The Round Leaf Orchid (Platanthera orbiculata) has two waxy green leaves the size of small plates laying flat on the ground at the base of a very long stem. Rare and distinctive with leaves, stem and flowers (at a height of 6 to 20" or 15 to 50 cm.) all of the same shade of green, it's found in very acidic soils of deep pine needles in undisturbed old growth forests. It will grow only leaves in the first year, leaves and the flower stalk in the second year and then nothing appears in the third year before re-emerging the next year. Leaves appear in mid to late June with white-tinged, green flowers emerging in mid July through mid to late August.

Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) is a very common orchid found throughout the area in gravel roadsides, sandy areas, dense pine forests or occasionally in lawns and gardens. Dark veined leaves are smooth underneath and slightly hairy above. The tip of the stalk often bends over and downward while in bud but will straighten to 12 to 24" (30 to 65 cm) when flowering. Several flowers along a purplish stalk are pale green to light pink with a greenish lip occasionally tinged with dark purple or red. Each of the short stemmed flowers sit over a long thin bract off the stalk. Flowers appear from late July through mid August.

Although the Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea) is not an orchid, I have included it in here with them because it is common to find it growing in bogs and fens alongside several of the orchids mentioned above. It is one of the few carnivorous plants found throughout the Temagami area and is approximately 4 to 6" (10 to 15 cm.) in length and 1 1/2 to 2" (3 to 5 cm.) in diameter. Found from early June through freeze-up in the autumn, the base of the plant (flower stalk is not shown) fills with rain water and the interior walls of the bulb secrete a slippery substance with a pleasant aroma to which small insects are attracted. After entering the bulb, they're unable to climb back up the slippery walls and perish in the watery liquid where they're dissolved and absorbed.

Another carnivorous non-orchid found in clean-water bogs and fens, the Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) can be found growing just at the waterline or within clusters of green or red sphagnum moss in near proximity to the Pitcher Plant and some of the orchids mentioned above. Although rare overall, when located, there are literally thousands of them and they appear as a red line hugging the waterline and are approximately 1 1/2 to 3" (3 to 5 cm.) high with each plant having a diameter of the same measurements. Those found dispersed in the patches of red sphagnum are much smaller at a height and a diameter of 1/2 to 1" (2 to 3 cm.). This photo is a close-up of the plant where the soft and sticky cactus-like needles produce a sweet smelling substance that small insects are attracted to and are then dissolved and absorbed by the host. A soft fleshy plant, it is found from early June through autumn.