Piperia elegans subsp. decurtata

Point reyes rein-orchid, Point Reyes Rein-Orchid

Family: Orchidaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

Point reyes rein-orchid is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in northern California Central Coast bioregion, specifically in Point Reyes and Marin County, in coastal scrub and coastal prairie at elevations around 100 meters. Flowering from August to September, this orchid produces white-lipped flowers with green lateral petals, characterized by a distinctive cinnamon-like fragrance. Growing 15 to 35 centimeters tall with delicate stems, the plant emerges with a single basal leaf 6 to 30 centimeters long and 10 to 75 millimeters wide. Its flowers feature a short spur 5 to 6 millimeters long, creating an elegant and understated appearance characteristic of rein-orchids. The plant thrives in generally dry, open coastal sites, showcasing its adaptation to the challenging coastal environment.

Habitat: Generally dry, open sites, coastal scrub, coastal prairie

Bloom period: Aug-Sep

Elevation: 100 m

Bioregions: n CCo (Point Reyes, Marin Co.).

California counties: Marin

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.