Piperia unalescensis, July 12, 2021
P. unalescensis, July 12, 2021
Common & scientific name
Alaska rein orchid, Piperia unalescensis
Family
Orchid, Orchidaceae
Location
Roadside, 9,000’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
There are upwards of 30,000 species of orchids worldwide, making the Orchid family either the largest or second largest family of vascular plants (vying with the asters). This orchid, however, is uncommon, and easy to overlook as it is skinny and green (and therefore can be lost among other vegetation) and grows in aspen groves and other unlikely spots for orchids. I honestly had not expected to find this orchid on the Pass, which I didn’t do until 2021, on a random aspen grove wander. Note to self: NEVER deny random wanders!