# downy rattlesnake plantain (*Goodyera pubescens*) The downy rattlesnake plantain is a special plant with fuzzy leaves that look like a snake's skin! It grows in shady forests and has pretty white flowers that bloom in summer. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 23 - **Habitat:** Forests ![downy rattlesnake plantain](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/294543324/medium.png) Photo: Nicholas Wei, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/294543324) ## Appearance The downy rattlesnake plantain has velvety, dark green leaves dramatically patterned with striking white or silvery veins, resembling a rattlesnake's skin. Its slender stalk rises to display small, fuzzy, greenish-white flowers arranged in a spiral. This unique foliage makes it stand out on the forest floor. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Asparagales - **Family:** Orchidaceae - **Genus:** Goodyera ## Interesting facts - It can take several years for a young plant to bloom for the very first time, showing incredible patience! - Its minuscule, dust-like seeds are so light, they can be carried far and wide by the slightest breeze! - The tiny flowers twist in a spiral up the stem, like a magical, hidden woodland staircase! - This beautiful plant is actually a fascinating native orchid, surprising many who discover it! ## Special abilities - **Winter Warrior Leaves:** Downy rattlesnake plantain has evergreen leaves that capture sunlight all winter, giving it a head start in spring growth. - **Mycorrhizal Master:** This plant forms a secret partnership with fungi, helping it absorb vital nutrients from the soil it can't reach alone. - **Forest Floor Camouflage:** Its distinctive leaf patterns help it blend seamlessly with dappled light and shadows, avoiding hungry eyes. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-40 cm - **Spread:** 10-20 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [white-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer occasionally browse its evergreen leaves. - **Depends on:** common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Relies on these bees for successful pollination. - **Eaten by:** large red slug (*Arion rufus*) — Slugs may consume its leaves and flowers. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless an adult says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify downy rattlesnake plantain? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is downy rattlesnake plantain? 10-40 cm ### How wide does downy rattlesnake plantain spread? 10-20 cm ### How big are the flowers on downy rattlesnake plantain? 0.3-0.5 cm ### When does downy rattlesnake plantain bloom? Summer ### Is downy rattlesnake plantain edible? No ### Is downy rattlesnake plantain toxic? None ### What is downy rattlesnake plantain's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Elk Neck State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/elk-neck-state-park) — Maryland, US · State Park - [Ice Age Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ice-age-trail) — Wisconsin, US · National Park - [Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/laughing-brook-wildlife-sanctuary) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Shenipsit Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shenipsit-trail) — Connecticut, US · Trail - [Andrews Geyser](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/andrews-geyser) — North Carolina, US · Nature Reserve - [Beaver Creek State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/beaver-creek-state-forest) — Ohio, US · Forest [View all places to see downy rattlesnake plantain](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/downy-rattlesnake-plantain) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Downy Rattlesnake Plantain: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/downy-rattlesnake-plantain)