Triphora trianthophoros

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Ordo: Asparagales

Familia: Orchidaceae
Subfamilia: Epidendroideae
Tribus: Triphoreae
Subtribus: Triphorinae
Genus: Triphora
Species: Triphora trianthophoros
Subspecies: (2)
T. t. subsp. mexicana – T. t. subsp. trianthophoros
Name

Triphora trianthophoros (Sw.) Rydb. in N.L.Britton, Man. Fl. N. States: 298 (1901)

Type species:

Synonymy

Basionym
Arethusa trianthophoros Sw., Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl. 21: 230 (1800)
Homotypic
Pogonia trianthophoros (Sw.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb., Prelim. Cat.: 52 (1888)

Distribution
Native distribution areas:
References
Primary references

Britton, N.L. 1901. Manual of the Flora of the northern States and Canada: 298.
Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.W. & Rasmussen, F.N. (eds.) 2006. Genera Orchidacearum Volume 4 Epidendroideae (Part one); page 614 ff., Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-850712-7. Reference page.

Links

Global Biodiversity Information Facility. 2021. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. Taxon: Triphora trianthophoros. Accessed: 2021 Aug 27.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Triphora trianthophoros in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Aug 27. Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Triphora trianthophoros in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Aug 27. Reference page.
Hassler, M. 2021. Triphora trianthophoros. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2021. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Aug 27. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2021. Triphora trianthophoros. Published online. Accessed: 27 Aug 2021.
Tropicos.org 2021. Triphora trianthophoros. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Aug 27.

Vernacular names

English: Threebirds

Triphora trianthophoros, the threebirds[1] or three birds orchid, or nodding pogonia, is a species of terrestrial orchid native to eastern North America.
Description

Triphora trianthophoros is a small, terrestrial, semi-saprophytic orchid.[2] The showiest member of its genus, T. trianthophoros has 1-8 (often 3, thus the name) nodding flowers that are roughly 2 cm in size and sit atop stems 8–25 cm tall. Leaves are small (~1 cm X 1.5 cm) and typically dark green to purple. The orchid blooms from July through September, but is infamous for its elusive nature, with ephemeral flowers lasting for only several hours on a few days of the year.[3] It has further been reported that populations across a region synchronize blooming on specific days, making observation of flowering specimens even more difficult.[4] Several forms of T. trianthophoros exist, including forma albidoflava (Keenan) with white flowers, forma caerulea (P.M. Brown) with blue flowers, and forma rossii (P.M. Brown) with multi-colored flowers.[5][6][7]
Habitat and range

Triphora trianthophoros is native to the eastern North America, ranging from as far south as Panama and north through Central America and the central and eastern United States into Ontario.[2] Despite its wide distribution, the species is rare throughout much of its range and has been given G3G4 (secured, but with cause for concern) conservation status by NatureServe.[8]

Triphora trianthophoros is usually found in mixed deciduous forests. Co-located species often include partridgeberry and beech trees.[2][3]
References

"Triphora trianthophora". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
Ramstetter, Jennifer (May 2001). "Triphora trianthophora (Swartz) Rydb.: Three Birds Orchid". New England Plant Conservation Program Conservation and Research Plan.
Brown, P.M. (2004). Wild Orchids of the Southeastern United States North of Peninsular Florida. University Press of Florida. pp. 238–239. ISBN 0-8130-2749-7.
Philipps, Thomas. "Three Birds Orchid". Plant of the Week. USDA Forest Service. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
Keenan (1992). "A New Form of Triphora Trianthophora (Swartz) Rydberg, and Part 3 of Observations on the Ecology of Triphora Trianthophora (Orchidaceae) in New Hampshire". Rhodora. 94: 38–39.
Brown, P.M. (2001). "Recent Taxonomic and Distributional Notes From Florida". North American Native Orchid Journal. 7 (1): 94–95.
Brown, P.M. (1999). "Recent Taxonomic and Distributional Notes From Florida". North American Native Orchid Journal. 5 (1): 5.
Maine Department of Conservation Natural Areas Program (2004). "Triphora trianthophora (Sw.) Rydb.: Nodding Pogonia". Rare Plant Fact Sheet.