[Twayblades: The Genus Neottia in the Cascade Mountain. Range of Oregon and Washington]
Northwest Twayblade, Northwestern Twayblade, Western Twayblade
Neottia banksiana
Synonyms: Listera banksiana, Listera caurina, Listera retusa, Neottia caurina, Ophrys caurina
This photo shows a close-up sideview of the flower of western twayblade as seen in coniferous forest along trail #3385 on the north side of Moon Point, Willamette National Forest..........July 12, 2008.
Characteristics:
Western twayblade is a perennial to 30 cm tall. It consists of of a single
stem with two opposite, oval to broadly elliptical leaves with parallel leaf
venation. The leaves are found near mid-stem. The tips of the leaves are pointed
and the bases are clasping. The stem above the leaves is generally very hairy.
The flowers are pale green to yellowish in color, with a rounded lip having a pair of horn-like teeth at the base. The 5 to 25 flowers form a terminal raceme.
Habitat:
Western twayblade is found in moist, coniferous forests, along streambanks,
and in wet meadows. It is found from low elevations to subalpine habitats.
Range:
Western twayblade is found from southern Alaska east to the western slopes
of the Canadian Rockies. From there, the distribution is southward through Idaho,
Montana, the Pacific Northwest, and hence to northwestern California.
This photo shows western twayblade as seen in coniferous forest along trail #3385 on the north side of Moon Point, Willamette National Forest...........July 12, 2008.
- 
- 
Western twayblade in coniferous forest along the Butte Camp Trail #238A, Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument...........July 9, 2013.
- 
Western twayblade in coniferous forest along the Butte Camp Trail #238A, Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument...........July 12, 2021.
Western twayblade as seen in dark forest along the Butte Camp Trail #238A, Mount Saint Helens National Monument.........June 9, 2015.
- 
Northwest twayblade as seen along the High Rock Trail #266 in the northern Gifford Pinchot National Forest..........July 2, 2015.
Photo above of Listera caurina from the Cheat Creek Trail, Mt. Jefferson
Wilderness..........June 18,-1992.
Paul Slichter