Orchid once thought to be no longer in VA, now growing in ODU greenhouse

Stephen Urick (Curator of the Kaplan Orchid Conservatory) and Lytton John Musselman (Mary Payne Hogan Professor of Botany) are hoping that they have as many as 10 rare orchid plants growing in flasks in the Kaplan Orchid conservatory. Seed pods for this rare orchid were collected from the universities Blackwater Ecologic Preserve near Zuni several months ago.

The orchid,Calopogon pallidus, commonly known as “pale grasspink”  was once thought to no longer grow in VA, was reported to be growing in the preserve in 2001.  Musselman says that when not in flower they are not much to see, but are gorgeous and striking when in bloom. What causes the plants to bloom is unknown.

Derived from an article in The Virginian-Pilot Sunday Dec 5, 2010.