English: Threebirds; Three birds orchid; Nodding pogonia.
Region: eastern North America, into Ontario; Central America, Panama.
Habitat: mixed deciduous forests, near partridgeberry and beech.
BotanyHerb; terrestrial orchid; small, semi-saprophytic; rare.
Stem: 8 to 25 cm tall.
Leaves: small, 1 cm long, 1.5 cm long; dark green to purple.
Inflorescence: 1 to 8, often 3, nodding flowers.
flowers: 2 cm in size and sit atop stems; blooms from July through September; lasting for only several hours on a few days of the year, synchronized on specific days.