Rein Orchids (Piperia)
by Bruce Homer-Smith

Rein Orchid is the common name for the genus Piperia in the Orchid Family.

Flat Spurred Piperia (P. transversa) - Photo by Keir Morse.

As you can see above, Rein Orchids have flowers with spurs sticking out the back of the flower. The spurs look like a horse’s rein, (thus Rein Orchid). Spur length, shape and direction are useful in distinguishing the different species in this genus.

Long-Spurred Piperia (P. elongata) – Photo by Keir Morse

Rein Orchid flowers are made in two layers. The back layer is 3 sepals (pointing at 9, noon and 3 in the photo above). The front layer is 3 petals, forming a Y in this picture. The lower petal is larger and is called the lip.

This particular flower has a hollow in the lip petal that connects to the spur. Other kinds of rein orchids have hollows where the sepals and petals come together, but the hollows are always directly below the reproductive parts. The pollinator sticks its tongue into the hollow and deep into the spur to find nectar. While the pollinator is reaching down the spur, the flower’s pollen attaches to its back, ready to fertilize the next flower it flies to.

Rein Orchid flowers are white or pale green or yellow – colors that night-flying moths can see. Most Rein Orchids give off a distinctive scent at night that the moths are attuned to. A moth will fly to its favorite kind of flower, where its uncoiled tongue is just the right length and flexibility to get to the nectar in the spur.

Elegant Piperia (P. elegans) – photo by William Follette

Rein Orchids have columns of small flowers above a stout stem. Most grow 2 to 4 feet tall.

Rein Orchids are native only to North America. Most species are found on the west coast from British Columbia to California.

Corrections/Comments: bruce@PlantID.net