Logo More Late Summer Orchids
At Home & the adjacent S. Nantahala Wilderness
All Text & Images:
Copyright (2018)


Late summer 2018 turned out to be quite an exciting time for botanizing around our home.
In addition to the Three Birds Orchid colonies I found in mid-August, September brought
some additional new orchid finds below our place and in the adjoining Wilderness Area.

Early September:


Spiranthes
October Ladies' Tresses Orchid   (Spiranthes ovalis var. erostellata)


Spiranthes
Entire plant, in habitat


Spiranthes
Interestingly, I'd seen this species for the first time just a day prior at Coweeta.


Spiranthes
I was checking recent hog rooting when I spotted the first flowering stalk here.


Spiranthes
While not a large population, these orchids were a nice find.




Calostoma
Of course, there were other things to see besides the October Ladies' Tresses...
I checked on this group of Calostoma that I had been following for the past month or two...



Otidea
I think this is one of the Otidea fungi, due to the split cup with overlapping edges.


Hearts_a_Bustin
The Hearts-a-Bustin' (Euonymus americanus) were in full "burst" mode...


Dagger_moth_caterpillar
Caterpillar of an American Dagger Moth (Acronicta americana) on a tree trunk



Tens days later, I took a walk up one of the creek branches to see if Turtleheads
were blooming yet, since I had seen them blooming at some nearby locations.
Besides a few Turtleheads, I found another cool "first for me" orchid species.

Mid September:


Turtlehead
White Turtlehead   (Chelone glabra)
A number of plants were in bud, but these were the only blooms so far.



Shaggy_Stalked_Bolete
I saw a number of colorful fungi along the creek:
Shaggy-stalked Bolete (Heimioporus betula)



Yellow_bolete
A yellow Bolete


Purple_mycena
A purple Mycena species


Dried_Indian_Pipes
From a distance, I spotted several groups of gone-to-seed Indian Pipes (Monotropa
uniflora)
.   I got closer because I couldn't see if they were Indian Pipes or Pinesap.



Corallorhiza
As I looked around, I noticed some nearby plants that were vaguely similar, but
different.   At first I thought they were one of the summer orchids gone to seed.



Corallorhiza
But then I recognized them as one of the Coral-root orchids (Corallorhiza sp.)


Corallorhiza
It wasn't until I got home that I identified them as Autumn Coral-root Orchids (Corallorhiza odontorhiza)


Corallorhiza
Ironically, one of my botanist friends, Max Medley had asked me several times
if I'd seen any Corallorhiza around here, and I'd always told him "no"...



Corallorhiza
While not uncommon, it is not an easy flower to spot if you're
not looking for them (or even if you ARE looking for them!)



Corallorhiza
Like other members of its genus, it is myco-heterotrophic: it primarily obtains
nutrients not from photosynthesis but through mycorrhizal fungi.




Fall Orchid Index Wildflowers Index
S. Nantahala Index NE GA - NC Index