SafePlants

Calopogon barbatus: The Bearded Grass-Pink

Calopogon barbatus, commonly known as the Bearded Grass-Pink or Early Grass-Pink, is a captivating orchid species native to the southeastern United States.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Calopogon barbatus
• Common Names: Bearded Grass-Pink, Early Grass-Pink
• Genus: Calopogon (grass pink)
• Family: Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)
• Synonyms:
  • Ophrys barbata Walter
  • Calopogon parviflorus Lindley
  • C. parviflorus Rafinesque
  • C. pulchellus

Distribution and Habitat

• Calopogon barbatus is found in the southeastern United States, ranging from North Carolina south to Florida and west to Louisiana.
• It thrives in acidic woodlands or moist open spaces, particularly favoring moist, open pineland bogs and Florida wetlands.

Morphological Characteristics

• The plant has 1-2 slender, basal leaves.
• It features up to 15 dark pink flowers crowded at the top of the stem, with most flowers opening simultaneously.
• The lip (upright topmost petal) bears a "beard" of yellow, club-shaped hairs, which gives the plant its common name and its specific epithet, barbatus.
• The petals are widest below the middle.

Quirky Facts

• The generic name Calopogon comes from the Greek and means "beautiful beard," referring to the distinctive hairs on the lip of the flower.
• The "beard" on the lip is believed to deceive insects, making them think that it might have pollen and nectar to eat.
• The Bearded Grass-Pink is among the first orchid species to appear in the springtime in Florida wetlands.