Featured – Orchids in and around the Ouachitas – North American Orchid Conservation Center

Mountains and Valleys

The Ouachitas consist of a series of distinct ridges separated by broad, grassy valleys.
Photo © David Arbour

Downy Rattlesnake Plantain Goodyera pubescens

Pine, oak, and hickory are common in the upland forests where Rattlesnake Plantains thrive in the well-drained, nutrient-poor soil.
Photo © David Arbour

Three Birds Orchid Triphora trianthophoros

In late summer a sudden drop in night time temperature is followed a few days later by mass-flowering in patches of this woodland orchid. Although the flowers are short-lived, I was lucky and photographed this one that lived up to its name.
Photo © David Arbour

Crested Coral Root Hexalectris spicata

The Coral Roots don't have leaves and must depend on symbiotic fungi to supply all their nutrition. I photographed this rare yellow form just outside the Ouachitas in a hilly part of southwest Arkansas.
Photo © David Arbour

Crested Coral Root Hexalectris spicata

The yellow form (L) not only lacks the purple on the lip, but the petals and sepals have less pronounced stripes when compared to the typical form (R).
Photo © David Arbour

Showy Orchis Galearis spectabilis

This species is very rare in the Ouachitas and I was lucky to see this white form in the highlands that occur on the very fringes of the Ouachitas.
Photo © David Arbour

Green Adder’s Mouth Malaxis unifolia

This orchid is often overlooked because of its tiny size and the flowers are best viewed from above.
Photo © David Arbour

Great Plains Ladies’ Tresses Spiranthes magnicamporum

This Great Plains Ladies' Tresses was photographed in the Ouachita foothills of SE Oklahoma on a prairie remnant that once formed part of the "Trail of Tears."
Photo © David Arbour

Oklahoma Grass Pink Calopogon oklahomensis

The Oklahoma Grass Pink is a rare orchid that grows in undisturbed prairies around the northwestern fringes of the Ouachita Mountain region.
Photo © David Arbour

Green Fringed Orchid Platanthera lacera

This species is fairly rare in this area and can be found along roadsides and in hay meadows in the valleys between the large mountain ranges. I have even found them growing right in the Ouachita Trail on Rich Mountain.
Photo © David Arbour

Large Whorled Pogonia Isotria verticillata

I photographed this double-flowered Large Whorled Pogonia on Rich Mountain, part of a colony beside a spring seep.
Photo © David Arbour

Orange Fringed Orchid Platanthera ciliaris

This beautiful species, although rare in the region, can occasionally be found along lake shores, roadsides, power line right-a-ways, and in open moist woods.
Photo © David Arbour

Water Spider Habenaria repens

Just outside the southern fringes of the Ouachitas in Arkansas and Oklahoma occur cypress swamps and oxbow sloughs in the Little River drainage where I photographed this orchid. This orchid has also been reported in the Ouachitas, growing in a flooded rock quarry.
Photo © David Arbour

Lady’s Slippers Cypripediums

The Large Yellow Lady's Slipper, Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens (R) and the more common Kentucky Lady's Slipper, Cypripedium kentuckiense (L) often are found growing quite close together and individuals that look intermediate can sometimes be found.
Photo © David Arbour

Kentucky Lady’s Slipper Cypripedium kentuckiense

Impressive populations of the Kentucky Lady’s Slipper make their home throughout the eastern Ouachitas.
Photo © David Arbour

DAVID ARBOUR, BIOLOGIST

Photo ©Molly Caswell

The Ouachita Mountains straddle western Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma and form part of the U.S. Interior Highlands, one of the few mountainous regions between the Appalachians and Rockies. These mountains were named by Native Americans for the large (chito) buffalo (ouac) they hunted in this area. We’ll explore these ridges and broad valleys with biologist David Arbour, discovering orchids across the region.

“I’ve lived in Arkansas most of my life. A biologist by training, I also consider myself a self-made naturalist. As a Biologist Aide for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, I’ve worked on a variety of field projects — from searching out and monitoring rare orchid populations to tracking down alligator nests in the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area. I also have my own environmental consulting firm that focuses on bird surveys for the Ouachita National Forest and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. I have always enjoyed photography and I was first introduced to wild orchids by a good friend about ten years ago. I have passionately searched for them and photographed them ever since.”

David has an extensive online gallery and you can see more of his nature photography here.

To learn more about the orchids growing in Arkansas and Oklahoma or to find out which ones might be found in your area, visit Go Orchids.

Featured – Orchids in and around the Ouachitas

Mountains and Valleys

Downy Rattlesnake Plantain Goodyera pubescens

Three Birds Orchid Triphora trianthophoros

Crested Coral Root Hexalectris spicata

Crested Coral Root Hexalectris spicata

Showy Orchis Galearis spectabilis

Green Adder’s Mouth Malaxis unifolia

Great Plains Ladies’ Tresses Spiranthes magnicamporum

Oklahoma Grass Pink Calopogon oklahomensis

Green Fringed Orchid Platanthera lacera

Large Whorled Pogonia Isotria verticillata

Orange Fringed Orchid Platanthera ciliaris

Water Spider Habenaria repens

Lady’s Slippers Cypripediums

Kentucky Lady’s Slipper Cypripedium kentuckiense

DAVID ARBOUR, BIOLOGIST

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