Arethusa bulbosa aka Dragon's Mouth

Arethusa bulbosa is a small perennial orchid called dragon's mouth. Other names include bog rose, bog orchid, and swamp pink. It belongs to the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Its native range spans central and eastern Canada and the United States. It reaches south to the Carolinas. In North Carolina, it grows in the mountains. Its wild sites include swamps, wet meadows, and sphagnum bogs. The name Arethusa refers to a fountain nymph.

Plants usually reach about 1 foot [0.30 metres] tall. Some reach 3 feet [0.91 metres], well above the usual height. A swollen corm sits beneath the slender, upright stem. The green stalk is smooth and lacks hairs. Tight, narrow sheaths wrap the stem before the leaf expands. After flowering, one green leaf grows into a grass-like blade. It reaches 0.58–0.83 feet [0.18–0.25 metres] long. This narrow leaf has smooth edges. The small plant can be hard to spot in the wild.

The fragrant flower opens from spring into early summer. Each stem bears one flower, though two sometimes form. Three pink sepals rise above the bloom. Two similar petals make a hood over the lower lip. That lip bends out and down, like an open mouth. Its edges wrinkle, and purple spots mark its surface. Fleshy white or yellow bristles add contrast. The lip gives visiting insects a place to land. Bumblebees take nectar and carry pollen away from the flower. An upright capsule follows, with fruit present in summer. It measures about 0.06–0.10 feet [0.02–0.03 metres] long.

For cultivation, provide sun or partial shade and acid soil. The soil should hold moisture and contain ample organic matter. Loam suits it, and it tolerates spells of wet soil. North Carolina State lists USDA hardiness zones 3a through 8b. Its suggested settings include native gardens, rain gardens, and meadows. A single plant can serve as a specimen. Its flower offers scent and a food source for bees.

Despite its low maintenance rating, this orchid can be difficult to grow. Moving plants from the wild rarely succeeds. Plants are also seldom offered for sale. North Carolina lists the species as endangered and critically imperiled. That state listing does not establish its global conservation status. North Carolina State reports no known diseases or other plant problems. The supplied sources give no information on edibility or toxicity.