grass pink orchid

grass pink orchid (Calopogon tuberosus) [state endangered]
Photo © John Hilty

FEATURES
Grass pink orchid is a perennial herb. Its single leaf is found at the base of the plant. The leaf is entire, simple and linear in shape. A long spike of red, pink or white flowers is produced. The fruit is a capsule that contains seeds. Grass pink orchid may attain a height of four to twenty inches.

BEHAVIORS
Grass pink orchid may be found in the northern one-half of Illinois plus Jackson and Macoupin counties. This plant grows in sand prairies, wet prairies, swamps, bogs and fens. Flowers are produced from May through July. Insects pollinate the flowers, while the seeds are dispersed by the wind.

​Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Orchidales
Family: Orchidaceae