Rare White GrassPink

[bobpbx]

Saturday was an outstanding day for going into one of my favorite bogs at this time of year. This is prime time for several beautiful species. I found a very rare white colored grass pink orchid I wanted to share with you (Calopogon tuberosus):

This one is bog asphodel (Narthecium americanum). When you see it, you are in prime pine barren bog land:

 

[Teegate]

Very nice Bob.

Guy

 

[BEHR655]

I found a very rare white colored grass pink orchid I wanted to share with you (Calopogon tuberosus):

Bob,
Is that just a mutant or will it propagate more white ones?

Steve

 

[bobpbx]

Bob,
Is that just a mutant or will it propagate more white ones?

Steve

'Tis a fair question Steve, and one I have not pondered. I met Dr. Ken Cameron, an orchid specialist from New York Botanical Garden, several weeks ago. I'll send him the photo and ask him.

 

[bobpbx]

Ken is working tonite. Here is his answer. He's a good guy.

Hi Bob,

Nice to hear from you. Albino mutants are pretty common in populations of orchids. The Calopogon species seem to vary quite often from pure white to dark pink and everything in between. Some species show this level of variation more than others. There is a lake that I paddle in the Adirondacks where white Pogonia ophioglossoides is just as common as the normal pink form. In some cases these mutants persist for only a few years and then die out. In others, I suspect that the mutation can become "fixed" genetically and persist for many generations.

Thanks for sending me the picture!

All the best,
Ken

 

[BEHR655]

Cool. You'll have to keep an eye on that spot Bob.

 

[mike242424]

very cool nice pictures

 

[woodjin]

Very nice Bob!! Did you find this in a regular haunt of yours or a new area?

Jeff

 

[bobpbx]

Very nice Bob!! Did you find this in a regular haunt of yours or a new area?

Jeff

A regular haunt that I discovered about 4-5 years ago Jeff.

 

[NJSnakeMan]

i think i'm going to start photographing all of the cool/weird looking wildflowers i see out in the pine barrens and letting you identify them for me

 

[Teegate]

i think i'm going to start photographing all of the cool/weird looking wildflowers i see out in the pine barrens and letting you identify them for me

You can just go to Mike Bakers site and do that also. MikeBaker.com


Guy

 

[bobpbx]

i think i'm going to start photographing all of the cool/weird looking wildflowers i see out in the pine barrens and letting you identify them for me

Cool, I like a challenge.....

 

[Teegate]

Cool, I like a challenge.....

Watch what you ask for Bob. We all should do it and see who can stump you


Guy

 

[ChrisNJ]

Awesome pics, thanks for sharing, I may have actually seen the yellow ones before in the pines.

 

[james ungehajer]

Great pics Bob. Thanks for showing them.