NameThatPlant.net: Orthochilus ecristatus

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Monocots: Asparagales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA (2/8/20):
Orthochilus ecristatus FAMILY Orchidaceae NEW! Click to go to FSUS key

Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.

You may enjoy reading Orchids of the Francis Marion National Forest by Jim Fowler.

This odd orchid species has a wand-like aspect, with a naked stem reaching 3-4 feet tall on average; there is a cluster of very long, strap-like leaves at the base, with each leaf growing to 2 feet long. Read more at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Pteroglossaspis ecristata FAMILY Orchidaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 049-21-001:
Eulophia ecristata FAMILY Orchidaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Triorchos ecristatus

COMMON NAME:
Spiked Medusa, Crestless Plume Orchid, Smooth-lipped Eulophia, Non-crested Eulophia

To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.

image of Orthochilus ecristatus, Spiked Medusa, Crestless Plume Orchid, Smooth-lipped Eulophia, Non-crested Eulophia

Jim Fowler jafpte_000d

August-September Berkeley County SC

Francis Marion National Forest

One of the rarest orchids in our region, per Weakley's Flora (2012).

WEAKLEY'S FLORA (2/8/20):
Orthochilus ecristatus FAMILY Orchidaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Pteroglossaspis ecristata FAMILY Orchidaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 049-21-001:
Eulophia ecristata FAMILY Orchidaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Triorchos ecristatus

2148

Forb
Perennial

Native to the Carolinas & Georgia

Documented growing wild in GA NC SC

Rare

Habitat: Mesic pinelands with blackjack oak, other sandhills and dry-mesic to mesic longleaf pinelands, also (southwards) in spodosol wet-mesic pine flatwoods, dry-prairies, and disturbed wet pastures, per Weakley's Flora

map
NEW! Click here to see a range map (and maybe identification notes) from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.

Click here to see a map showing all occurrences known to SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria. (Zoom in to see more detail.)

LEAVES:
Simple

FLOWER:
Summer/Fall
Purplish-brown
Bisexual
Bilaterally symmetrical
3 sepals, two lateral and one dorsal
3 petals, the two lateral similar and a third (the lip) enlarged
stamens and pistil fused together into a column
Inferior ovary

FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Capsule

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!