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crane-fly orchid

Tipularia discolor

The crane-fly orchid is a special flower that looks like a tiny crane in flight! It has beautiful greenish flowers that bloom in the spring, often hiding in the woods.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The crane-fly orchid has a single, ribbed leaf that is dark green on top and rich purple underneath. Its tall, slender stalk bears small, greenish-brown flowers with thin petals that resemble tiny crane-flies.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAsparagalesFamilyOrchidaceaeGenusTipularia
crane-fly orchid
flowering trait badgeshade_tolerant trait badgespring_blooming trait badgepollinator_magnet trait badge
crane-fly orchid

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Its scientific name, discolor, means "two colors" because its leaf is green on top and purple underneath!

Some people say its tiny flowers smell like sweet apples or spicy cloves!

This sneaky orchid often disappears in spring, leaving no trace until its flower stalk pops up in summer!

Unlike many plants, it grows its leaf in the fall and keeps it all winter long!

Special abilities

Ability

Winter Warrior Leaf

The crane-fly orchid grows a single leaf in fall that survives all winter, soaking up sun when tree leaves are gone!

Ability

Nighttime Nectar Beacon

Its small, greenish-brown flowers open at night and release a sweet scent to guide long-tongued moths in the darkness.

Ability

Underground Food Bank

This orchid has a hidden chain of round, starchy tubers beneath the soil, storing food for years like a secret pantry!

Measurements & details

Height
30-60 cm
Spread
10-20 cm
Flower Size
1-1.5 cm
Bloom Season
Summer
Edible
No
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Black Cutworm Moth

Agrotis ipsilon

Moth pollinates orchid by visiting its night-blooming flowers.

symbiotic with

Tulasnella Fungus

Tulasnella calospora

Fungus helps orchid absorb nutrients from the soil for survival.

eaten by

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Deer may browse on the orchid's leaves or flower stalks.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look at flowers from a distance and never pick them without permission.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is crane-fly orchid?

30-60 cm

How wide does crane-fly orchid spread?

10-20 cm

How big are the flowers on crane-fly orchid?

1-1.5 cm

When does crane-fly orchid bloom?

Summer

Is crane-fly orchid edible?

No

Is crane-fly orchid toxic?

None

What is crane-fly orchid's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is crane-fly orchid pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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