crane-fly orchid (Tipularia discolor) observed in Great Falls, VA, US
iNaturalist: cbwehner
Summary
iNaturalistWhy it matters This matters because crane-fly orchids are a sign of healthy, undisturbed forest floor habitat, so spotting one near you means your local woods may still be in good ecological shape.
Someone found a crane-fly orchid growing in the wild near Great Falls, Virginia, and the sighting was verified as accurate by the iNaturalist community. This little orchid is unusual — it grows a single spotted leaf in winter, then that leaf disappears before the plant sends up tiny flowers in summer, making it easy to miss entirely. Finding it in the wild is a treat because it only grows in older, undisturbed forests with rich soil.
chevron_right Technical Details
A crane-fly orchid was spotted and confirmed in Great Falls, VA — a small, secretive native orchid that most people walk right past without ever knowing it's there.
Key Findings
A research-grade (community-verified) observation of crane-fly orchid was recorded in Great Falls, VA, US
Crane-fly orchid (Tipularia discolor) is a native North American woodland orchid with a distinctive two-season growth habit — winter leaf, summer flower
Great Falls, VA sits within the Potomac River gorge area, a regionally significant natural corridor that supports diverse native plant communities
Abstract Preview
Research-grade observation of crane-fly orchid in Great Falls, VA, US.
open_in_new Read full abstract on iNaturalistAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Tipularia discolor, the crippled cranefly or crane-fly orchid, is a perennial terrestrial woodland orchid, a member of the family Orchidaceae. It is the only species of the genus Tipularia found in North America. It occurs in the southeastern United States from Texas to Florida, the range extendi...