Amerorchis rotundifolia (Round-leaf Orchid)

Those of us who attended this year's Native Orchid Conference symposium in Canada were excited to visit a local natura area where several species of native orchids are found (in season).

In one location of the Wagner Natural Area near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, there were hundreds of a diminutive orchid (about 4-6 inches tall) called round-leaf orchid because of the single round leaf at the base of the plant. The flowers are generally some shade of white or pink with a lip that is dotted with purple spots. Rarely, the lip will be pure white.

Sometimes, the spots on the lip will merge into a set of two purple lines - one on each side of the lip. This "variety/form" has been given the name, lineata.

I saw one instance of the white-lip one, but I did not see the striped one... Regardless (as you can see), I spent a lot of time photographing these beautiful orchids.