Rare Orchid Flower Found In North Jersey State Park

SUSSEX COUNTY — A globally rare orchid was found in Sussex County’s Stokes State Forest last month, the Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Natural Lands Management announced.

The small whorled pogonia was located on stony ground within the Stokes Forest, and is just a single plant, officials said. This is just the third time the orchid has been spotted within New Jersey (the other two occurrences were also in Sussex County).

Known scientifically as Isotria medeoloides, the small whorled pogonia is a small whorl of for or five leaves around a stem, and grows to be about ten inches tall. It flowers once in late spring. It is considered endangered in New Jersey and threatened by the federal government.

“While small and inconspicuous, this plant’s presence indicates a healthy and thriving forest ecosystem,” said New Jersey Parks and Forestry Director Olivia Glenn. “I’m thrilled that biologists discovered this elusive orchid in a state park where we can monitor, manage and protect this rare find.”

The flower was spotted by biologists on June 6 while they were scouting locations to plant the small whorled pogonia.

“Small whorled pogonia previously occurred in Bergen, Hunterdon, Passaic and Sussex counties, but the orchid has not appeared on many of these sites in decades,” said Bob Cartica, Administrator of the Office of Natural Lands Management. “That’s one of the mysteries of this orchid – suitable habitat exists throughout its range, but populations of small whorled pogonia are rare.”

Image via NJDEP