north american native orchid journal - at The Culture Sheet

Brown: AN ALBINO ADDER’S MOUTH FROM CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS AN ALBINO ADDER’S MOUTH FROM CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS Paul Martin Brown Malaxis bayardii, Bayard’s adder’s-mouth, is one of the rarest <strong>orchid</strong>s to be found in the <strong>north</strong>eastern United St<strong>at</strong>es. Long suffering under confusion and synonymy, it was revalid<strong>at</strong>ed by C<strong>at</strong>ling in 1991. In Barnstable County, Massachusetts, where there were several older records for Malaxis bayardii, there is a current colony of upwards to 500 plants. <strong>The</strong> number seen vary from year to year but the area is (somewh<strong>at</strong>) managed and the plants are very happy. In July of 2005 Emily Kellogg observed several plants th<strong>at</strong> lacked all pigment – true albinos – not just white flowers. Malaxis bayardii forma kelloggiae P.M. Brown form. nov. Forma floribus et folia alba conspecibus diversa. Differing from the species in th<strong>at</strong> the entire plant, leaves, stem, and flowers, are white TYPE: U.S.A.: Massachusetts, Barnstable County. Sandwich, growing along old woodroad near Peter’s Pond. 4 July 2005 (HOLOTYPE: photograph E. Kellogg, North American N<strong>at</strong>ive Orchid Journal 11: 5. 2005). ENTYMOLOGY: Named for Emily Kellogg, who first observed the form Although very rare in North America this lack of pigment<strong>at</strong>ion does occur in Epipactis helleborine (Brown, 2004), Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera aquilonis (Brown, 2000; Light, 1989) and P. brevifolia (Wm. Jennings, pers. comm.) and may very well randomly occur in other species. Such mycotrophic genera as Hexalectris and Corallorhiza also have white plants but often the flowers have pale yellow markings. Cypripedium acaule has been found with white leaves although the flowers were typical pink and this condition does not appear to persist annually. 4

Brown: AN ALBINO ADDER’S MOUTH FROM CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS <strong>The</strong> only genus and species in North America with normally white plants lacking in all obvious chlorophyll is Cephelanthera austiniae of the Pacific Northwest. After Kellogg’s initial observ<strong>at</strong>ion additional plants were found by Brian Cassie and Brian Podlisny and brought to the author’s <strong>at</strong>tention. Unlike some aberrant forms these white plants were pollin<strong>at</strong>ed and set seed. Plants of Malaxis bayardii flower from l<strong>at</strong>e June into August, and appear to be in flower much long as the floral parts do not with rapidly as do those on Malaxis unifolia. Liter<strong>at</strong>ure Cited: C<strong>at</strong>ling, P.M. 1991. System<strong>at</strong>ics of Malaxis bayardii and M. unifolia.. Lindleyana 6:3-23. Light, M.S.. and M. MacConnail. 1989. Albinism in Pl<strong>at</strong>anthera hyperborea. Lindleyana 4(3): 158-60. Acknowledgments: In addition to Emily Kellogg, Brian Cassie, and Brian Podlisny , Kent Perkins (FLAS) provide liter<strong>at</strong>ure inform<strong>at</strong>ion. Malaxis bayardii forma kelloggiae Barnstable County, MA Photo by Brian Podlisny 5