Marin Chapter California Native Plant Society
Some Native Orchids of Marin County
Calypso bulbosa, fairy slipper:
About the earliest orchid to flower in March and perhaps the
prettiest.
Some years we are lucky enough to have large numbers on
Mt. Tamalpais under Douglas-fir, from Rock Spring to Laurel Dell
particularly.
Goodyera oblongifolia, rattlesnake-plantain:
This orchid is one of the latest to flower-in August- on Mt.
Tamalapais.
It is most easily found along the trail from Rock Spring
to Laurel Dell under Douglas-fir trees.
Epipactis gigantea, stream orchid:
Flowers in June in Samuel P. Taylor State Park, along Lagunitas
Creek. Also in the marshes near the Bull Point trail, Pt. Reyes N.S.
Epipactis helleborine,
This is an orchid that is a weed!
It has spread widely in Marin from
an accidental introduction.
Corallorhiza maculata, spotted coral-root:
A parasitic/mycotrophic orchid usually associated with
Douglas-fir.
The non-spotted variety is var. occidentalis, it is often
associated with broad-leaf trees such as coast live oak and
bay-laurel.
Corallorhiza striata, striped coral-root:
This orchid usually flowers in May in broad-leaved evergreen forests.
Usually several plants grow on Mt. Burdell near the western
water-tank access road. Other sites include Roy's Redwoods, San
Geronimo.
Piperia elegans, coastal rein orchid:
Marin has two subspecies: ssp. elegans is reasonably common along the
coast and flowers in July and August. Ssp. decurtata is very rare and
grows only on the Chimney Rock peninsula and near the Pt. Reyes
Lighthouse. The two ssp. differ in perfume and flower-spur length.
Piperia elongata, long-spurred rein orchid:
This species grows in several places in Marin and flowers in June and
July. It can usaully be found in the woods along the east side of
Deer Island in Novato.
Piperia transversa," horizontal-spurred" rein orchid:
Also easily found most years in June and July in the woodlands of Mt.
Tamalpais. Less commonly seen on Mt. Burdell, Novato, on the rocks
just west of San Andreas Drive fire road.
Piperia michaelii, michael's rein orchid:
Reported only once in recent years -from the granitic hills
east of Abbotts Lagoon.
Piperia unalascensis:
Uncommon in Marin and usually in flower May and June in
woodland above Fairfax.
Spiranthes porrifolia, lady's tresses:
Not that common in Marin, grows in moist places on Mt. Tamalpais,
such as around Lake Lagunitas in July.
Spiranthes romanzoffiana, lady's tresses:
Reasonably common in wet meadows on Pt. Reyes in July and August.
Cypripedium californicum, Lady's slipper:
The last time this orchid was found in Marin was above Muir
woods, adjacent to a stream in a serpentine area. Alice Eastwood made
a fine herbarium specimen of it but that may have been the last one.
Platanthera leucostachys, marsh orchid:
Most easily seen on Pt. Reyes, in marshes (not acid bogs) in June and
July.
If the cattle spare them near the Bull Point trail is a good
bet. The flowers are fragrant.
For more information and photographs of these
California native plants,
go to Calflora
or CalPhotos.
Contribute (e-mail) your wildflower sightings/ photos
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