bird's-nest orchid
ExplorePlants
bird's-nest orchid
Neottia nidus-avis
The bird's-nest orchid is a special plant that doesn't have green leaves! It grows in shady forests and gets its food from a special relationship with fungi in the soil.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The bird's-nest orchid is a peculiar plant entirely lacking green pigment, instead sporting a uniform yellowish-brown to reddish-brown color. Its stem rises straight, topped by a spire of small, hood-shaped flowers, giving it a ghost-like appearance among the forest floor.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAsparagalesFamilyOrchidaceaeGenusNeottia
Category
PlantsRarity
Rare
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It's a master of disguise, blending perfectly with fallen leaves and twigs on the forest floor!
Its root mass looks like a tangled bird's nest, giving this unique orchid its common name!
Sometimes, scientists can't find this orchid for years until it suddenly pops up to bloom!
This spooky plant is entirely brown because it doesn't need green chlorophyll to make its own food!
Special abilities
Ability
Fungal Friendships
The bird's-nest orchid can grow without sunlight because it gets all its food and energy from special fungi living in the soil.
Ability
Forest Floor Dweller
This orchid has no green leaves and can thrive in deep, dark forests where most plants struggle to find enough light to survive.
Ability
Hidden Growth
Its entire life cycle can spend many years underground as a small rhizome, only emerging to flower when conditions are just right.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 15-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.8-1.2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to early summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
symbiotic with
Brown Crust Fungus
Tomentella sublilacina
Provides essential nutrients to the orchid through its roots.
pollinates
Fungus Gnat
Mycetophila fungorum
Attracted to the orchid's scent and helps transfer pollen.
depends on
European Beech
Fagus sylvatica
The orchid often grows where its fungal partners connect to beech trees.
Traits
Mycorrhizal
This trait describes a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and the roots of a plant, benefiting both organisms.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Nonvascular
This trait characterizes plants lacking specialized vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) for transporting water and nutrients.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Symbiotic
Describes a relationship between two different species where they live in close association, often benefiting one or both.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Endangered
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants in the wild, as some can be delicate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify bird's-nest orchid?
The easiest way to identify bird's-nest orchid is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is bird's-nest orchid?
15-60 cm
How big are the flowers on bird's-nest orchid?
0.8-1.2 cm
When does bird's-nest orchid bloom?
Late spring to early summer
Is bird's-nest orchid edible?
No
Is bird's-nest orchid toxic?
None
What is bird's-nest orchid's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is bird's-nest orchid pollinated?
Insect
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