Low herbs, with fleshy tubers and few axillary flowers. Sepals and petals separate, nearly equal. Lip erect, slightly clawed, somewhat 3-lobed, crestless and spurless. Column club-shaped above. Anther terminal, stalked, attached to the back of the column, its sacs parallel; pollinia 1 in each anther-sac, powdery-granular, without caudicles. Stigma a flattened disk below the anther. Capsule oval, drooping. [Greek, bearing 3 flowers.]

About 10 species, natives of America, only the following, the generic type, found in the United States.

1. Triphora Trianthophora (Sw.) Rydb. Nodding Pogonia

Fig. 1385

Arethusa trianthophora Sw. Kongl. Vet. Acad. Handl.

(II.) 21: 230. 1800. Triphora pendula Nutt. Gen. 2: 193. 1818. Pogonia pendula Lindl. Bot. Reg. pi. 908. 1825. PogOnia trianthophora B.S.P. Prel. Cat. N. Y. 52. 1888. Triphora trianthophora Rydb. in Britton, Man. 298. 1901.

Stems glabrous, 3'-8' high, from a tuberous root, often clustered. Leaves 2-8, alternate, ovate, 3"-9' long, clasping; flowers 1-7, on axillary peduncles, pale purple, at first nearly erect, soon drooping; perianth 6"-8" long; sepals and petals about equal, connivent, elliptic, obtuse; lip clawed, somewhat 3-lobed, roughish or crisped above, not crested, about as long as the petals; capsule oval, drooping, about 6" long.

In rich woods, Canada(?), Maine to Rhode Island, Florida, Wisconsin, Missouri and Kansas. Ascends to 3500 ft. in North Carolina. Local. Three-birds. Aug.-Sept.