SafePlants

Calopogon tuberosus (Tuberous Grasspink)

Calopogon tuberosus, commonly known as tuberous grasspink or grass pink, is a captivating orchid native to eastern North America.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Calopogon tuberosus
• Family: Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Taxonomic Rank: Species
• Synonyms: Calopogon pulchellus
• Alternative Scientific Names: Calopogon tuberosus (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.

Distribution and Habitat

This orchid has a broad range, occurring across much of eastern Canada and the United States, extending as far southwest as Texas and Oklahoma. It is found in damp grasslands, sphagnum bogs, and abandoned cranberry bogs. It's also noted to be found in frequently burned flatwoods, such as those in Francis Marion National Forest, South Carolina.

Morphological Characteristics

• Known as grass pink due to its long, narrow, grass-like leaves.
• Grows to a height of 2 1/2 to 4 feet.
• Produces a raceme of up to 12 irregular, 1 to 1 inch, 6-parted flowers, ranging in color from pale to deep pink.
• The specific epithet tuberosus refers to the tuberous corm of the plant.
• Leaves are wider than 3/8 inch.

Subspecies

There are two accepted subspecies, including the Simpson's pink orchid and the typical tuberous grasspink.

Quirky Facts

• Tuberous grasspink has the broadest range of any of the five species in the Calopogon genus.
• A rare albino form of the grass pink orchid exists.

Further Information

• USF Herbarium Specimen
• Encyclopedia of Life
• Discover Life