Isotria medeoloides (Small Whorled Pogonia orchid)

This is the result of a long day of botanizing with two dear friends from Atlanta, Georgia -- Alan Cressler and Steve Bowling. These two guys know more about the flora of Georgia than anyone else I know.

We made several stops, the first of which was at an Isotria medeoloides site in Union County, Georgia. The next stop was at a seep way up in the mountains of the Chattahoochee National Forest, also in Union County. Finally we ended up at another Isotria medeoloides site in Fannin County, Georgia.

Isotria medeoloides is one of the rarest orchids in North America. It is on the Federal List of Endangered Species. Very few populations of them are known, and the populations are always quite small. The two sites we visited contained less than ten plants -- of which only seven were blooming...

I have not included a map location for these images due to the extreme sensitivity of the sites.

To see additional images and to read more about this field trip, please go to Jim's Blog...