Wednesday's Wildflower: Withlacoochee Noddingcap
WITHLACOOCHEE NODDINGCAPS Triphora craigheadii Luer Orchid Family (Orchidaceae) Submitted by Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society The fragile, succulent stem of this native orchid averages 1"–2" tall with 1–4 broadly ovate, 3/8" leaves that are dark green above and purple below. Flowers are about 3/16" wide and last only 2 hours in the morning. Plants often produce 2 buds that open a week apart. What this means is that you need to be standing in front of plants in bud during June and July at about 10:00 o’clock in the morning and, if you’re lucky, a flower will open. A clue to a bud opening is it stands straight up the day before if opens. Otherwise the buds are nodding. If you miss it, you’ll have one more chance the following week. If you miss that chance, then you’ll have to wait another year.