Gale, That is very interesting (and also nice to hear from you; I hope we will see you at the JBS meeting in a few weeks). Anomalous flowers are known in some other orchids (especially Spiranthes). If you get the chance, you should take some pictures. Arthur Haines Research Botanist New England Wild Flower Society (207) 318-4255 -----Original Message----- From: - JBS-L - Josselyn Botanical Society discussion list of the University of Maine [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gale Flagg Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2005 8:32 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Strange Corallorhiza maculata Hi, All, As you know I sometimes find odd looking flowers. A few days ago I saw a Corallorhiza maculata that had a crowded look at mid-inflorescence. On close inspection I discovered many flowers with two or three "lips". Some had the normal number of sepals and narrow petals plus two or three lips. Some had only two sepals and three lips, one pointing straight up. The number of wide lips on the flowers is what made it look so crowded. No matter what the arrangement, there was only one ovary per flower. Flowers at the tip and below were normal. Gale Flagg