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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Frog orchid
| image = Coeloglossum viride 04 mg-k.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Coeloglossum viride
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Monocotyledon|Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Orchidaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Coeloglossum]]''
| species = ''C. viride''
| binomial = ''Coeloglossum viride''
| binomial_authority = [[Hartman]], 1820
}}
The '''Frog Orchid''', or '''''Coeloglossum viride''''', also known as the '''Long-Bracted Green Orchid '''and '''''Dactylorhiza viridis''''' is a monotypic [[genus]] of the family ''[[Orchidaceae]]'' generally found within the [[palearctic]] [[ecozone]] <ref>(L.) R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W. Chase 1997)</ref> throughout the mid to northern United States through Canada, and in the British Isles and parts of Western Europe. It is typically found growing in moist, rich soil in wet meadows, moist or wet [[deciduous]] woods and thickets<ref>http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/vascplnt/species/coel.htm</ref>, and is frequently found on steep slopes.

The generic name is derived from the Greek ''koilos glossum'' meaning "hollow tongue," referring to the hollow spur on the tongue-like [[labellum]]<ref>http://www.botany.wisc.edu/orchids/Coeloglossum.html</ref>.

Plant arises from fleshy, forked roots and ranges in height from 10-55 cm.
Leaves of the Frog Orchid are 5-14 cm long and 2-7 cm wide; leaves at the base of the orchid are [[obovate]] to [[elliptical]], while leaves higher on the stem become [[lanceolate]]. Two to six leaves are found one one plant, and leafing is alternate.

[[Inflorescence]] of the orchid is a dense [[raceme|spike-like cluster]] containing 7 to 70 small flowers. Flowers are greenish in color, and often tinged with purple, reddish, or red-brown color. Flowers are subtended by conspicuous long, tapering [[bracts]] which are 1-6 cm long, with the lower [[bracts]] longer and typically greatly exceeding the length of the flower. [[Sepals]] are oval with little or no point, 3-7 mm long and 2-4 mm wide and dark green. Sepals join with petals to form a hood opposite the [[labellum|lower petal]] of the flower. Petals are long and narrow, 3.5-5 mm long and about 0.5 mm wide, and curve inwards. The [[labellum|lower petal]] is strap-shaped and usually split at the very tip to form two or three tooth-like divisions, with the middle tooth smaller than the others. It is 5-11 mm long and 1-4 mm wide. A 2-3 mm long nectar spur projects behind the labellum.
<ref>http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=COEVIRvVIR</ref>

The Frog Orchid flowers in late May and early June. It is either pollinated by bees and small wasps, or reproduces autogamously by [[incoherent pollenia]]. <ref>http://www.botany.wisc.edu/orchids/Coeloglossum.html</ref>

The Frog Orchid can be mistaken for the Pale Green Orchid, but can be best distinguished by the labellum, which is notched at the apex and does not have the [[tubercle]] of the Pale Green Orchid.

== References ==
<references />

==Additional photos==
<gallery>
Image:Coeloglossum_viride_01_mg-k.jpg|''Coeloglossum viride'' plant [[Germany]] - [[Hesse]]
Image:Coeloglossum_viride_02_mg-k.jpg|''Coeloglossum viride'' flowers Germany - Hesse
Image:Coeloglossum_viride_08_mg-k.jpg|''Coeloglossum viride'' plant with buds Germany - Hesse

</gallery>

{{commons|Coeloglossum viride}}
{{OrchidsYearDE}}
{{orchid-stub}}
[[Category:Orchid species]]
[[Category:Flora of Canada|Orchid, Frog]]

Frog Orchid - Revision history

MediaWiki default at 05:58, 3 July 2007