Growing just a few feet from the banks along swampy areas, this orchid can be easily overlooked. There are over 30 species of this orchid, and only three are found in the United States.
Shadow Witch (Ponthieva Racemosa) Close-up | Alice Mary Herden | Jan 2019
Shadow Witch (Ponthieva Racemosa) Close-up | Alice Mary Herden | Jan 2019
Here is a nice write up about the Shadow Witch back in 1997 by Chuck McCartney. This article describes two varieties of the Shadow Witch; Pontheiva Racemosa and the Pontheiva Brittoniae. https://fnps.org/assets/pdf/palmetto/mccartney_chuck_mrs_brittons_shadow_witch_ponthieva_brittoniae_vol_17_no_1_spring_1997.pdf
The Brittoniae has the two extending petals (lips) curled under and all white.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: http://flnativeorchids.com/nativelaw.htm
Links:
http://flnativeorchids.com/natives_gallery/ponthieva_racemosa.htm
https://uswildflowers.com/detail.php?SName=Ponthieva%20racemosa
http://goorchids.northamericanorchidcenter.org/species/ponthieva/brittoniae/
http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=3321#classification
Categories: Chassahowitzka WMA, Native Orchids
Florida Nature 