As it stands, I have seen at least one if not two native orchids in Illinois, and four others outside of Illinois. There is a dubious possibility that I have seen a rose poginia once. This is uncertain, so I will move on to the plants I have seen for certain, starting with Aplectrum hyemale, or the Putty-Root. The strongly veined leaf in the middle of the shot is the orchid. This is a strange plant, as I found it along the Waterfall Trail in Ferne Clyffe State Park. That would be the busiest trail in a popular state park.
I nearly stepped on it as it was along the edge of the path. Only later did I realize that this was an orchid or I would have freaked out completely. Then again, I had just found about fifteen species I had never seen before, so there is that as an excuse. Putty-root orchids are found scattered throughout Illinois. Populations are found in the Sangamon River Valley (supposedly), Shawnee National Forest, and the Chicago area. As a rare but not threatened plant, they can be found in old, undisturbed woodlands. The leaves last from fall to spring and then die, with flowers emerging in May-June as an undistinguished brown stalk. While this is a boring plant compared, for instance, to its relatives the lady-slippers or even the rattlesnake plantains, it is the first confirmed orchid I have ever seen, and the only one I have seen in Illinois.
If you know of anyplace in Illinois to see other species of orchids within an hours drive from Sangamon county, please post below. I promise that all I will do is photograph the heck out of the plants. I plan to go Spiranthes hunting soon in a couple of hill prairies I know of in Mason county.
