Malaxis paludosa
Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl. 21: 235. 1800.
Plants 3–23 cm. Roots fine. Pseudobulbs 4–8 mm diam. Leaves 2–3, basal; blade elliptic or narrowly elliptic, 0.3–3.5 × 0.1–1.5 cm. Inflorescences spicate racemes, 0.5–9 cm; floral bracts lanceolate, 1.4–3.3 mm; pedicels 2–3 mm. Flowers 2–55, not resupinate, green or yellowish green; dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, (1.6–)2–2.5 × 1–1.6 mm, apex acuminate; lateral sepals reflexed, elliptic, falcate, (1.6–)2.5 × 1–1.6 mm, apex acuminate; petals strongly recurved, ovate-lanceolate, 1.4–1.9 × 0.5–1 mm, apex acuminate; lip ovate with dark green veins, 1.2–1.8 × 0.7– 1 mm, base cuneate, apex unlobed, acuminate; column (0.3–)0.5–0.7 × (0.3–)0.5–0.7 mm; pollinia yellow. Capsules ascending, ellipsoid, 4 × 2 mm. 2n = 28.
Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Open sphagnum bogs, swampy woods
Elevation: 10–300 m
Distribution
Alta., B.C., Man., N.W.T., Ont., Sask., Yukon, Alaska, Minn., Eurasia.
Discussion
Malaxis paludosa sometimes reproduces asexually by production of gemmae on the leaf tips (R. L. Taylor 1967).