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Family: Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
Mid-Atlantic bloom time: May - June
Large Whorled Pogonia is infrequent throughout its range.
Although superficially resembling Cucumber Root (Medeola virginiana), it bears its single flower above a single set of whorled leaves (usually 5 leaves, but it can have 3-6). Also, its stem is glabrous, unlike Cucumber Root's pubescent and somewhat wiry stem.
It is also similar to the Small Whorled Pogonia (Isotria medeoloides) (in the same genus). The Large Whorled Pogonia lower part of its stem is purplish (not green) and is generally taller (up to 35 cm high). The two species are most easily differentiated when in bloom. The Large Whorled Pogonia flower's sepals are brownish, not green, and the flower is separated from the whorled leaves by a longer pedicel (2-5 cm).
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7 May 2023
Prince William County, VA 
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7 May 2023
Prince William County, VA (note lower part of stem is purplish, upper part more green) 
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7 May 2023
Prince William County, VA 
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7 May 2023
Prince William County, VA 
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7 May 2023
Prince William County, VA (note long dark-brown sepals) 
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7 May 2023
Prince William County, VA 
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7 May 2023
Prince William County, VA (smooth, purplish lower part of stem) 
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12 May 2023
Prince William County, VA (fading bloom) 
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