Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Western Rattlesnake Plantain
Goodyera oblongifolia
Orchid family (Orchidaceae)

The white-striped-mottled leaves in a are distinctive for Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid and make finding this orchid relatively easy. Close examination of the flower reveals its lovely orchid features. The plant's common name may arise from the belief that its striped leaves indicated its use to treat snake bite. However no such medicinal qualities are confirmed. An alternative theory about the derivation of the common name is that the eastern species of this plant, Goodyera pubescens has much more mottled leaves that indeed do look a bit like a rattlesnake's skin. "Goodyera" is for noted British 17th century botanist and botanical writer, John Goodyer.


©2008 Paul Slichter

Description

, 6-14" tall, with prominent white mid-vein on oval leaves and of white to green-white flowers in arranged one-sided or loose spiral on a tall slender . Petals and one of flower form a hood over lower lip. Leaves are thick, , broadly in . are erect, .

Field Marks

Slender of white-green flowers arising from mat of leathery leaves with white mottling.

© Al Schneider

An evergreen tree retains a large portion of its green leaves all year.

An entire leaf has smooth edges. Not toothed or lobed.

rosette -- usually a dense cluster of leaves at the base of a plant.

A herb is a plant whose stems die back to the ground in the winter.

pubescent -- downy; covered with short, soft, erect hairs.

Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom.

basal -- at the base, situated or attached at the base.

capsule -- a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. In most cases the capsule splits apart to release seeds.

fruit -- any seed-bearing structure in flowering plants. It is formed from the ovary after flowering.

stalk -- The supporting structure of an organ. Examples of stalks are stem, peduncle, petiole, ...

A spike is an unbranched, indeterminate inflorescence in which the flowers are without stalks.

A raceme is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along its axis.

lanceolate -- Lance-shaped. Long, wider in the middle.

A perennial plant lives and blooms for many years.