Alternate name: Soldier's Orchid

Family: Orchidaceae, Orchid view all from this family

Description A slender, leafy plant with small, white or yellowish flowers in dense spikes.
Flowers: about 1/4" (6 mm) long; upper sepal joined to 2 side petals, all forming a hood over column; 2 side sepals ovate-oblong; lip petal yellow, fleshy, broadest near end.
Leaves: 3/4-3 1/2" (2-8.8 cm) long, grass-like, overlapping, tinged with purplish-brown.
Height: 2-7" (5-17.5 cm).

Flower Throughout year, mainly January-February.

Habitat Lawns, wet fields, hummock edges, roadside ditches.

Range Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas.

Discussion Native of Asia and Africa, this species was introduced to Florida, probably around 1917, and has spread rapidly. It is usually found in lawns and waste places.