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Table of Contents
Higher Taxon
Species List
Identification Guide
General Information
Species G. pubescens
Species G. repens
References
Acknowledgments
Description:
According to Jones's book Plant Systematics, there are about fourty species of Goodyera found in the temperate and tropical regions of the world(Jones et al, 1986). Hausman describes the genus Goodyera as, "...perennial herbs with fleshy-fibrous roots. The basal leaves are often prominently veined and blotched. Lateral sepals are distinct and spreading, the upper ones united with the lateral petals to form a hood. The lip is sac-like and concave; the anther is attaced to a column by a short stalk and two pollinia are present. Whitish or pinkish flowers are borne in terminal bracted spikes"(Hausman et al, 1947). Niering also adds that the flowers form a small cylindrical cluster on top of a leafless hairy stalk, which rises from the dark blue-green, white veined leaves(Niering et al, 1979).
Species List:
There are around fourty species in the genus Goodyera. This list contains scientific names and some common names of the more common species of the Goodyera genus according to Plant Systematics(Jones et al. 1986). Four of these species are found in the United States. You can link directly to pages on the speces G. pubescens and G. repens.
| Scientific Name | Common Name |
| G. bradeorums | |
| G. erosa | |
| G. hispaniolae | |
| G. macrophylla | |
| G. major | |
| G. micrantha | |
| G. modesta | |
| G. oblongifolia | Menzies' Rattlesnake Plantain |
| G. ovatilabia | |
| G. pubescens | Downy Rattlesnake Plantain |
| G. repens | Lesser Rattlesnake Plantain |
| G. striata | |
| G. tesselata | Loddige's Rattlesnake Plantain |
| G. turrialbae |
Identification Guide:
This key distinguishes the characteristics of four species in the genus Goodyera that are found in the United States. This key can be found at a site created by Jeffrey R. Hapeman at "http://www.wisc.edu/botany/Orchids/Goodyera.html"
I.Inflorescence secund (one-sided) or loosely spiraled
A.Flowering stem large, usually 20 cm or greater; flower parts typically greater than 5 mm long
-Leaves dark green, marked with a white stripe along the midrib; reticulations +/- present, but rarely prominent...oblongifolia
-Leaves green, often pale green; marked with white reticulations, lacking a stong white stripe along the midrib...tesselata
B.Flowering stem small, generally less than 15 cm tall; flower parts less than 5 mm long; plants thus diminutive in all respects...repens
II.Inflorescence cylindrical; generally densely packed with flowers
-Labellum typically saccate-globular; leaves ovate or obovate, generally strongly reticulated with white...pubescens
-Labellum more elongate and scarcely saccate; leaves typically more lanceolate, reticulations typically appearing greenish white...tesselata
Other sites are also available on G. pubescens and G. repens.
General Information:
The genus Goodyera was named in honor of a seventeenth century British botanist named John Goodyer(Cox et al. 1985). The leaves of the Goodyera genus can be found year-round but it only blooms between the months of July and August(Niering et al, 1947). The Goodyera species grows in moist or dry deciduous(especially under oak) and coniferous woods or well drained wooded slopes. The seeds are dispersed by wind(Cox et al. 1985). The plants got the common name rattlesnake plantain because the leaves look like the skin of a rattlesnake(Duncan et al. 1975). The leaves are sometimes used for skin irritations, bruises, and insect bites. However, these plants are not abundant in many areas and are often protected by law(Cox et al. 1985). More on the Goodyera genus can be seen at this link
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References:
Blanchan, Neltje. 1901. Nature's Garden. Doubleday, Page & Co. New York, NY.
Cox, Donald D. 1985. Common Flowering Plants of the Northest. State University of New York Press. Albany, NY.
Duncan, Wilbur H. and Leonard E. Foote. 1975. Wildflowers of the Southeastern United States. The University of Georgia Press. Athens, Ga.
Hapeman, Jeffrey R. Web page created by Hapeman at "http://www.wisc.edu/botany/Orchids/Goodyera.html".
Hausman, Ethel H. 1947. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Wild Flowers. Garden City Publishing Co. Garden City, NY.
Jones, Samuel B. and Arlene E. Luchsinger. 1986. Plant Systematics, Second Edition. Impresora Donneco Internacional. Mexico.
Niering, William A. and Nancy C. Olmstead. 1979. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. New York, NY.
Smith, Arlo I. 1979. A Guide to Wildflowers of the Mid-South. Memphis State University Press. Memphis, Tenn.
I would like to thank the following people:
-Jeff Kirby, University of California at Davis, for permission to use his picture of G. repens
- Tim Dickinson,the University of Toronto, and the Royal Ontario Museum, for permission to use the image of G. pubescens
-Elizabeth Skillen for skanning the Herbarium images
-Bryan McLucas for helping me build this web page