Species Details
Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium Read more about this collection »
LeavesEgg-shaped; 1-5 cm long (Moss, 1983). One pair; opposite; above middle of stem; stalkless (Johnson et al., 1995). 0.7-3 cm wide (E-Flora BC).
FlowersPale to yellow-green; veins of sepals and petals deep green; lance-shaped and 4-7 mm long; lip 2-4 times longer than wide, broadest at base; 7-12 mm long (Moss, 1983). 3-15 in cluster (Johnson et al., 1995).
Fruits and SeedsCapsules; oval; 5 mm long; many seeds (Johnson et al., 1995).
Scientific Name
Listera borealis Morong
Common Name
northern twayblade
General Description
A perennial 5-25 cm tall that grows from fleshy roots, has glandular hairs and bears pale to yellow-green flowers (Johnson et al., 1995).
Leaves
Egg-shaped; 1-5 cm long (Moss, 1983). One pair; opposite; above middle of stem; stalkless (Johnson et al., 1995). 0.7-3 cm wide (E-Flora BC).
Flowers
Pale to yellow-green; veins of sepals and petals deep green; lance-shaped and 4-7 mm long; lip 2-4 times longer than wide, broadest at base; 7-12 mm long (Moss, 1983). 3-15 in cluster (Johnson et al., 1995).
Fruits and Seeds
Capsules; oval; 5 mm long; many seeds (Johnson et al., 1995).
Phenology
June to August (JSTOR).
Notes
2n=56 (Moss, 1983). Also called Ophrys borealis (Moss, 1983). A nectary is in a furrow in the centre of the lower lip; bees, wasps or beetles lick the nectar and a drop of sticky fluid in the pollen bundle hardens…
2n=56 (Moss, 1983). Also called Ophrys borealis (Moss, 1983). A nectary is in a furrow in the centre of the lower lip; bees, wasps or beetles lick the nectar and a drop of sticky fluid in the pollen bundle hardens pollen in place on the insect's head (Johnson et al., 1995). Another common name is "big ears" due to the two leaves on the stem (Johnson et al., 1995).
Range/Distribution
Alberta: SW in mountain range to central (Canadensys). CAN (BC, MB, NL, SK, NT, NU, ON, PE, QC, YT); USA (WA, OR, ID, MT, WY, UT, CO, NM) (USDA).
Citation
Page Citation for Listera borealis Morong
Page Citation
"Species Details - Listera borealis Morong, University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/1-3478. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
Specimen Information
There are 55 specimens of this Species.
109664 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, RB Miller Biological Station
Date Collected1967-07-13
107944 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, RB Miller Biological Station
Date Collected1961-06-15
38092 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park, Sofa Creek
Date Collected1970-06-22
40421 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Willow Creek
Date Collected1971-07-18
81622 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Two Lakes
Date Collected1979-07-18
5419 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cypress Hills
Date Collected1945-07-06
24241 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, North Saskatchewan River
Date Collected1952-08-05
5420 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Fort Saskatchewan
Date Collected1932-06-04
36683 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cypress Hills
Date Collected1930-06-16
36684 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Burnside
Date Collected1937-06-25
5417 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Sulphur Mountain
Date Collected1916-07-05
5418 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Coleman
Date Collected1950-08-30
5415 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Nordegg
Date Collected1953-06-20
5416 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Robb
Date Collected1952-07-28
5414 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Meander River
Date Collected1950-08-12
5410 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park
Date Collected1923-06-25
5411 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Ponoka
Date Collected1927-06-30
5413 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Medicine Lake
Date Collected1939-07-05
5412 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Wetaskiwin
Date Collected1929-06-14
72435 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, RB Miller Biological Station
Date Collected1966-07-14
101643 - Listera borealis Morong
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namenorthern twayblade
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Kootenay Plains
Date Collected1981