Rose Pogonia Orchid (Pogonia ophioglossoides)

Photographic Location: AEDC in Manchester Tennessee

On the advice of my friend, Dennis Horn, I took a trip to Arnold Engineering and Development Center (AEDC). Dennis is one of the authors and photographers for the publication Wildflowers of Tennessee the Ohio Valley and the Southern Appalachians. I have a very tattered copy that I use almost every day and is on my suggested publications list.

I was indeed lucky to meet Dennis and Max Medley (Co-author of The Atlas of Vascular Plants in Kentucky) for a full day of wildflower hunting. Two really great guys with more knowledge about wildflowers than I will ever know. Thanks guys for letting me tag along. I really learned a lot.

This is but one of the many flowers we saw. I especially like orchids and we saw and photographed several.

The Rose Pogonia Orchid is a member of the Orchid Family (Orchidaceae). It usually has only 1 flower on an erect, slender stem. It is rose or pink-colored and, unlike most orchids, has a nice fragrance. The lower lip is densely bearded near the throat with white to yellow bristles. There is 1 leaf near the middle of the stem, 4 inches long or less and 1 1/4 inches wide.

For more information about this wildflower, Click Here.