Ponthieva racemosa (Hairy shadow-witch orchid)

Those damn mosquitoes!!! I've never seen them any worse than today when I was trying to concentrate on focus and composure -- both of which I lost early on...

Anyway, these strange little orchids were growing in profusion in a swampy area way off the beaten path. They seem to prefer a swampy, shaded habitat; a perfect place for biting insects.

The flowers are non-resupinate, which means the lip is uppermost rather than being in a lower position as seen in the large majority of other native orchids. With resupinate orchids, the flowers twist 180 degrees as they open so that the lip is lowermost. The leaves form a basal rosette and are a uniform, medium green.

This orchid species is found in the Southeast from Texas to Virginia. Hairy shadow-witch orchid -- isn't that a wonderful name for such an unusual looking flower? Its botanical name is in honor of Henri de Ponthieu, a French botanist who, in 1778, collected and botanized in the Caribbean where this plant is also found (Puerto Rico).