ORCHIS FAMILY ORCHIDACEAE 
GRASS PINK 
Calopogon pulchellus (Sw.) R. Br. 
This Orchid is the only member of its genus. The 
generic name, from two Greek words meaning beautiful 
beard, and the Latin specific name meaning beautiful, refer 
particularly to the lustrous fringe 
on the lip of the flower. 
The Grass Pink grows in open 
bogs and meadows from Newfound- 
land to Florida, Minnesota and 
Missouri. It is very rare in Illinois 
but may be found occasionally in 
small colonies in the northern part 
of the state. 
The scape arises 1-1% feet high 
from a solid bulb and is sheathed 
below by the base of the solitary 
grasslike leaf. Below the leaf are 
several scales. 
The raceme inflorescence has 
4-12 purplish pink flowers, each in 
the angle of a small bract. The 
lateral sepals are flat, curved and 
tapering, and the upper is narrower. 
The petals are lanceolate, obtuse and 
constricted at the middle. The 
broadly triangular lip is as though 
hinged at the base and is bearded 
along the upper side with yellow and 
purplish crimson hairs. The 2-celled anthers contain pollinia, 
and the column is about as long as the lip and 2-winged at the 
summit. The capsule is oblong and nearly erect. 
The Ragged Green Orchis, Habenaria lacera (Michx.) R. Br., 
also called Fringed Green Orchis, is a frequenter of swampy grounds, 
wooded bogs or open swales from New England to Minnesota, south 
to Georgia and Missouri. The stem bears several firm lanceolate 
leaves, the upper gradually smaller and narrower. The 2-6-inch 
spike is loosely flowered. The yellowish green flowers are one-half 
to three-quarters of an inch long and the lip is one-half inch long, 
deeply 3-parted and narrowly fringed on each part. The spur of the 
lip and the ovary are also one-half inch long. 
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