Puttyroot (Click image to enlarge) Photo © by Resa Ramsey. Used by permission. 
Puttyroot Leaf (Click image to enlarge) |
Puttyroot Aplectrum hyemale Puttyroot is an orchid that occurs throughout much of the midwestern United States, and into western New England, the Appalachian Mountains, and the Ozark Mountains. Puttyroot's name derives from the putty-like consistency of the root stock. One striking feature of puttyroot is its reliance on a single leaf that emerges in early fall and overwinters (left, bottom). Thus, puttyroot can provide a welcome dash of green in an otherwise somber winter landscape. Most puttyroot plants do not bloom every year, but those that flower usually do so in late spring, perhaps around the end of May. The single leaf typically withers when the plant blooms (or would have bloomed). The flowers (left, above) appear on long stalks and are relatively short-lived; finding a plant in bloom requires being in the right place at the right time. Even after marking the locations of colonies and checking them every few days I've managed to miss the flowers more than I've found them. Seed pods form on the stalks after the flowers fade, and can persist well into the summer. |
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