Adam and Eve Orchid

A perennial terrestrial orchid occurring in eastern deciduous forests. A single, plaited, blue-green leaf emerges in the early fall from a pair of corms. After overwintering (often under snow), the leaf withers in the spring and a single stalk with 8-15 pale green or yellow flowers may emerge.

Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by seed capsules (last photo) about ¾-1" long that are broadly ellipsoid in shape with multiple narrow ridges along their sides. These capsules nod downward from their pedicels along the raceme; later in the year, they split open to release abundant tiny seeds. These seeds are easily distributed to new areas via wind currents.