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Puttyroot
Aplectrum hyemale leaf
Scientific Name
Aplectrum hyemale
(Muhl. ex Willd.) Torr.
Family Name
Orchidaceae
Orchid Family
Did you know?
The common name Adam-and-Eve orchid comes
from the fact that old roots (Adam) give rise to new
roots (Eve). The common name puttyroot is based
on the historical use of the sticky substance found
in the roots as a glue to mend pottery. You could
say that this plant is a precursor to super glue.
Photo credits: Stephen M. Young
Summary
Protection Endangered in New York State, not listed federally.
This level of state protection means: listed species are those with: 1) 5 or fewer extant
sites, or 2) fewer than 1,000 individuals, or 3) restricted to fewer than 4 U.S.G.S. 7 ½
minute topographical maps, or 4) species listed as endangered by U.S. Department of
Interior.
Rarity G5, S1
A global rarity rank of G5 means: This species is demonstrably secure globally, though it
may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
A state rarity rank of S1 means: This plant is endangered/critically imperiled in New York
because of extreme rarity (typically 5 or fewer populations or very few remaining
individuals) or is extremely vulnerable to extirpation from New York due to biological
factors.
Conservation Status in New York
While this plant was apparently more common in the 1800s, today only one location is
known. This plant may face various threats, but the reasons for its decline are not well
understood. There appears to be plenty of habitat available across a rather large portion of
the state. While it seems unlikely that people would overlook an orchid, this is possible
since the leaves are only visible from fall to spring.
NYNHP Conservation Guide - Puttyroot (Aplectrum hyemale)
Short-term Trends
Since 1950, only three populations have been observed and today only one is known. This
one population only has about a dozen plants. While this population is within a protected
landscape, the trends might indicate broader threats that may one day lead to the loss of
this plant from the New York flora.
Long-term Trends
Between 1850 and 1900 there were a minimum of 40 known populations. Between 1900
and 1950, the number of reported populations dropped to approximately 15. Since 1950,
only three populations have been reported. The causes of this decline are unknown.
Conservation and Management
Threats
There are probably many influences that have lead to the sharp decline of this plant. These
threats may include acid rain deposition, changes in soil chemistry, changes in the
composition of soil fungal species, and deer herbivory.
Conservation Strategies and Management Practices
Provide a large undisturbed buffer around occurrences of this orchid. Monitor population
numbers.
Research Needs
Research is needed to find the causes of the rapid decline of this species in the state.
Habitat
This is an orchid of rich woods, often found near limestone outcrops or in calcareous talus. The
moisture of the soil varies from mesic upland sites to damp low ground areas. Most of the woods
are deciduous or mixed deciduous-evergreen (New York Natural Heritage Program 2005). Moist,
deciduous, upland to swampy forests (Flora of North America 2002). Rare in moist, rich wooded
slopes and bottomlands (Rhoads and Block 2000). Rich woods (Gleason & Cronquist 1991). Rich
woods, both upland beech-maple and more swampy woods in low ground (Voss 1972). Rich
woods (Fernald 1970).
Associated Ecological Communities
Appalachian Oak-hickory Forest
A hardwood forest that occurs on well-drained sites, usually on ridgetops, upper slopes, or
south- and west-facing slopes. The soils are usually loams or sandy loams. This is a
broadly defined forest community with several regional and edaphic variants. The dominant
trees include red oak, white oak, and/or black oak. Mixed with the oaks, usually at lower
densities, are pignut, shagbark, and/or sweet pignut hickory.
Limestone Woodland
A woodland that occurs on shallow soils over limestone bedrock in non-alvar settings, and
NYNHP Conservation Guide - Puttyroot (Aplectrum hyemale)
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usually includes numerous rock outcrops. There are usually several codominant trees,
although one species may become dominant in any one stand.
Other Probable Associated Communities
Beech-maple mesic forest
Calcareous talus slope woodland
Maple-basswood rich mesic forest
Rich mesophytic forest
Associated Species
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
Climbing Fumitory (Adlumia fungosa)
Bearded Shorthusk (Brachyelytrum erectum)
White Bear Sedge (Carex albursina)
Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis)
Marginal Wood Fern (Dryopteris marginalis)
White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
Round-leaved Liverleaf (Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa)
Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Quercus m?hlenbergii
Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
White Goldenrod (Solidago bicolor)
Bluestem Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
American Basswood (Tilia americana var. americana)
Identification Comments
Puttyroot orchid spends the fall through the early spring as a solitary basal leaf that can be
seen sticking slightly up at an angle from ground-level. The leaf is oval with a pointed tip
and base, dark green with white stripes along the veins, and pleated. The underside is a
purplish color. During May or June a green (with a few colorless bracts) flowering stem 1-2
feet tall is produced and the leaves wither. At the top of the stem 7-15 widely spaced
flowers arise on stalks about as long as the flowers. The tan and green flaring sepals and
forward-facing petals have showy purple tips. The lip is white with purple spots and a wavy
edge. As the flowers age they tend to hang down.
Best Life Stage for Identifying This Species
This orchid may be identified by its winter basal leaf or by its flower. The winter leaf
appears in the fall and persists until spring. A photograph of the leaf or images showing
the overall stem growth plus close-ups of the flower should verify the identification of this
plant. A description of the habitat may also prove helpful in confirming the identity.
The Best Time to See
The winter basal leaf develops in late September and is visible early in the spring through
April. The flowers develop early May to mid-June and fruits develop late June through
September. The ideal survey time is late fall after most herbaceous plants have gone
dormant for the winter and before too much snow falls. Surveys may also be conducted in
NYNHP Conservation Guide - Puttyroot (Aplectrum hyemale)
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the early spring when the leaves are still present, as well as during the months of May and
June when this plant is likely to be in flower.
Vegetative
Flowering
Fruiting
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
The time of year you would expect to find Puttyroot in New York.
Similar Species
Vegetative plants of Tipularia discolor may be confused with Aplectrum. Tipularia has
leaves which are green to greenish-purple on top, purple underside, and are absent of any
white striping or pleating. The leaves of Aplectrum are pleated and with numerous white
stripes. In New York, Tipularia has only been observed in eastern Long Island and in the
Rochester area. Aplectrum is not known from Long Island, so the only potential range
overlap appears to be western New York.
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Anthophyta
Class
Monocots (Monocotyledoneae)
Order
Orchidales
Family
Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)
Additional Common Names
Adam-and-Eve
Adam-and-Eve Orchid
Additional Resources
Links
New York Flora Atlas
http://www.newyork.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=2037
Flora of North America
http://efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=220000960
USDA Plants Database
http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch?mode=sciname&keywordquery=
APLECTRUM+HYEMALE
NatureServe Explorer
http://natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=APLECTRUM+HYEMAL
NYNHP Conservation Guide - Puttyroot (Aplectrum hyemale)
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E
Google Images
http://images.google.com/images?q=APLECTRUM+HYEMALE
Best Identification Reference
Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and
Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 910 pp.
References
Fernald, M.L. 1950. Gray's manual of botany. 8th edition. D. Van Nostrand, New York. 1632 pp.
Flora of North America Editorial Committee. 2002. Flora of North America, North of Mexico. Volume
23. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. 608
pp.
Holmgren, Noel. 1998. The Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual. Illustrations
of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York
Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York.
Keys, Jr.,J.; Carpenter, C.; Hooks, S.; Koenig, F.; McNab, W.H.; Russell, W.;Smith, M.L. 1995.
Ecological units of the eastern United States - first approximation (cd-rom), Atlanta, GA: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. GIS coverage in ARCINFO format, selected imagery,
and map unit tables.
NatureServe. 2005. NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, Virginia. USA
New York Natural Heritage Program. 2010. Biotics database. New York Natural Heritage Program.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany, NY.
Newcomb, Lawrence. 1977. Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: An Ingenious New Key System for
Quick, Positive Field Identification of the Wildflowers, Flowering Shrubs, and Vines of
Northeastern and North-Central North America. Little, Brown and Company. Boston.
Reschke, Carol. 1990. Ecological communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage
Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Latham, NY. 96 pp. plus
xi.
Richburg, Julie A. 2004. Aplectrum hyemale (Muhl. ex Willd.) Nutt. (Puttyroot). Conservation and
Research Plan for New England. New England Wild Flower Society, Framingham,
Massachusetts, USA. Available online at: http://www.newfs.org/pdf/aplectrumhyemale
Weldy, T. and D. Werier. 2010. New York flora atlas. [S.M. Landry, K.N. Campbell, and L.D. Mabe
(original application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research
http://www.fccdr.usf.edu/. University of South Florida http://www.usf.edu/
New York Natural Heritage Program
This project is made possible with funding from:
625 Broadway, 5th Floor,
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River
Albany, NY 12233-4757
Estuary Program
Phone: (518) 402-8935
- Division of Lands & Forests, Department of Environmental Conservation
[email protected]
- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Information for this guide was last updated on Oct 27, 2015
This guide was authored by
NYNHP Conservation Guide - Puttyroot (Aplectrum hyemale)
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