Downy Rattlesnake Plantain

(Goodyera pubescens)

Color Photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens [Willd.)] R. Br. ex Ait. f.)

Identification: Flowers green-white, small. Flowers arranged in a tightly packed terminal spike. Stem woolly, with a few scalelike bracts. Leaves ovate-elongate, located near the base of the plant. Leaf dark green, reticulated and checkered with a pattern of white lines. Plant 6 to 16 inches in height.

Distribution: Southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States, southward to Florida and Oklahoma.

Habitat: Downy Rattlesnake Plantain is a woodland species.

Flowering period: July to August

Similar Species: Species of the genus Goodyera are easily identified by the dark green, basal leaves checkered by a pattern of white lines. The separation of species is difficult and completely accurate identification depends on floral structure details best left to technical books. Downy Rattlesnake Plantain has the flowers arranged in a tight cylindrical spike. The flowers of Dwarf Rattlesnake Plantain are mostly confined to one side of the spike. The flowers of Checkered Rattlesnake Plantain are in an open spiral.