Cyclopogon elatus (Sw.) Schltr.
Tall Neottia
Facts About
Accepted Synonyms: Beadlea elata, Spiranthes elata
Cyclopogon elatus, commonly known as the Tall Neottia, is distributed in the West Indies, Mexico, Central America, northern South America and in Florida where it is exceedingly rare. This plant has 4-6 elliptic green leaves that grow in an erect basal rosette and wither at or just after flowering. It flowers in March, producing 10-30 flowers with appressed sepals and petals greenish brown in color and the lip is white marked with tan. Cyclopogon elatus prefers the damp, shady forests of southern Florida's hardwood hammocks.
Cyclopogon elatus is widely distributed in tropical America and its conservation status is apparently secure. However in South Florida, this orchid is rare and endangered, and may be extirpated in some of its previous locations.
Pollination
This orchid is pollinated by sweat bees in the family Halictidae.
Ecosystem Type
Forests, woodlands
Characteristics
- Habitat:
- terrestrial
- Leaf arrangement:
- basal
- Number of leaves on stem:
- absent
- Form of the labellum:
- the labellum is not pouch-like
- Labellum outline:
- the labellum is simple
- Main color of labellum:
-
- green to brown
- white
- Nectar spur:
- absent
- Inflorescence type:
- the inflorescence is a spike
- Labellum characteristics:
- the labellum is saccate
- Labellum length:
- 5–7 mm
- Sepal length:
- 4–7 mm
- Plant height:
- 20–55 cm
Native to North America
Yes
North American Conservation Status & Distribution
Conservation Status
| Conservation and Wetland Status | |
|---|---|
| Global Rank | Apparently Secure |
| US Status | N/A |
| Canadian Status | N/A |