Flower ID: IMG_5379.JPG-05-12-2023 Flower name (scientific): Aplectrum hyemale (Muhlenberg ex Willdenow) Torrey PY: 1826. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) a-PLEK-trum hy-EH-may-lee Flower name (common): Putty-root Family name (common): Orchid Family name (scientific): Orchidaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From Greek a meaning without or not, and plektron meaning a spur, refers to the flower having no spur. Specific epithet: Pertains to winter, refers to the leaves developing over the fall and winter months. Common name origin: The corms produce a glue-like substance, hence the term putty-root. Flower description: Size: 0.5 to 1.0 inches (1.3 to 2.5 cm) Petal count: 3 (and 3 sepals) Color: yellow to green with purple tinge Other: flower arrangement, Raceme Plant description: Size: 12 to 24 inches (30 to 61 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is basal, type is simple Size: Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, narrowly to broadly elliptic (FNA), broadly elliptic or oblong-ovate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon Bloom time (typical): May to June Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Forests, woodlands, moist, rich soil, semi shade to shade. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes. The very distinctive striped appearance of the single basal leaf can help to identify this species. This is particulaly true during the winter months, when there are very few green-leaved species to be found. The leaves fade away as the bloom season arrives. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes in Wisconsin. The Cherokee used the roots as a dietary aid and the Catawba employed the roots to prepare a poultice to treat boils (Moerman, p. 78, 1998). Latitude: 44.727592 Longitude: -91.911412 Altitude: 268.20 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Brown, Calumet, Crawford, Dane, Dunn, Grant, Green, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Monroe, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Richland, Sauk, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Vernon, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (ON, QC) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Cymbidium hyemale Muhlenburg ex Willdenow Sp. Pl. 4(1): 107. 1805. Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FAC Wetland Status (MW): FAC