Tiny orchid, big heart

I cannot believe it has been over seven years since I had discovered a very rare wildflower called the Long-bracted Green Orchid Coeloglossum viride; a species that my friend and colleague Frank DeStefano had been searching for quite some time.

The report of this find became exciting news for orchid enthusiasts as well as several state botanists.

In fact, this species of wild orchid was considered extirpated in Pennsylvania according to John Kunsmans - one of the chief botanists for the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program.

“There are only historical records of Coeloglossum viride in Pennsylvania and practically every site revisited proved unsuccessful.

“In fact, this orchid was never common in Pennsylvania and with impacts from deer browsing; we believe this species no longer occurs in the Commonwealth,” reported John.

Equally exciting was that this rare orchid was found in protected Pennsylvania State Forest Lands located in Luzerne County.

When I had notified Frank about my discovery he immediately made arrangements to visit the site, and subsequently photographed this rare orchid that has once again planted its roots in Pennsylvania soils.

I remember saying to Frank that we can check this species of orchid off from of our bucket list. “Thanks a million,” he replied. “Now I need to return the favor.”

There is the old saying, “Hard work will bring about good fortune.” Well, after seven years of hard searching, Frank discovered a fortune of a find, and proudly returned the favor. Toward the end of May, Frank had notified me that he located a colony of Heart-leaf Twayblade Orchids Listera cordata, which happens to be classified as a threatened species in Pennsylvania.

This species of orchid — which inhabits cold, shaded hemlock swamps and bogs — had not been found in the Poconos for nearly one-hundred years.

Frank located the colony of Heart-leaved Twayblade Orchids growing in a densely vegetative glacial swamp located on State Forest Lands in Lackawanna County. Upon hearing this amazing news, I made arrangements with Frank to visit the site and ultimately photograph these diminutive orchids.

When you mention wild orchids to someone, they envision showy and colorful blossoms such as pink-lady’s slipper orchids or some of the exotic indoor species that are often sold in plant nurseries and garden centers.

That is certainly not the case when it comes to the Heart-leaved Twayblade Orchid, as this species can be easily walked past, stepped over or stepped on top of unless spotted by a botanist with a trained eye such as Frank.

Heart-leaved Twayblade Orchid is one of the smallest wild orchids in North America that expresses heart-shaped leaves. Its leaves are smaller than the size of a pinky fingernail and its flowers even tinier. The plant rarely exceeds 5-inches in height and becomes invisible growing in a bed of dark green sphagnum moss.

I remain delightfully perplexed and bewildered on how Frank discovered these orchids — because when we had met, Frank cautiously directed me toward several plants and I still could not find any, even while standing directly over a few.

Searching for Heart-leaved Twayblade orchids best describes the technique called “belly botany,” which basically means that flower enthusiasts literally must lay on their belly to get eye-level views of these wildflowers.

That is exactly what I had to do just to photograph a few specimens. Close-up magnification with a macro-photography lens allows the imagination to run wild. The Twayblade orchid reminded me of an extremely tiny burgundy-colored fairy doll floating in the air with five delicate wings adorning her back. The Heart-leaved Twayblade Orchid is one of nature’s most delicate examples of exquisiteness and daintiness.

Frank and I methodically surveyed the wetland habitat for more wild orchids, and by achieving a search-image we collectively discovered over 80 individual specimens of Heart-leaved Twayblades. And from what I had learned, Frank’s new find is by far, the largest population in Pennsylvania.

Words cannot describe the feeling we get when finding wild orchids; especially rare species such as Long-bracted Green Orchid and the Heart-leaved Twayblade.

"Well, add another one to our bucket list," I chided Frank.

“What’s next?” asked Frank.

"About five more rare species," I replied.

We cannot guarantee our success for future wild orchid endeavors. What I can assure is the passion and desire we get by finding the tinniest of orchids with the biggest of hearts.