Woodland and Bog Rein Orchids in Your Pocket: A Guide to Native Platanthera Species of the Continental United States and Canada (Bur Oak Guide) [1 ed.] 1587298627, 9781587298622

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a bur oak guide

Woodland &

Bog Rein Orchids

&

in your pocket A Guide to

Native Platanthera Species of the Continental United States and Canada

Paul Martin Brown

Northern green bog orchid Platanthera aquilonis Sheviak

syn.: Limnorchis aquilonis (Sheviak) Rebrist. & Elven forma alba (Light) P.M. Brown: albino form Few to numerous green to yellow-green flowers; lip yellower, wider above middle, tapering at both ends; spur cylindric or with a swollen tip, 2–5 mm long, equal in length to lip; leaves slender, spreading, decreasing in size upward late spring to summer Occasional to common in wetlands and on gravels north and west, rare south range: Alaska, Colo., Conn., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., Mont., Nebr., N.H., N.J., N.M., N.Y., N.D., Ohio, Ore., Pa., R.I., S.D., Utah, Vt., Wash., Wis., Wyo.; Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld., N.W.T., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Y.T.

Green bog orchid Platanthera huronensis (Nutt.) Lindl. syn.: Limnorchis huronensis (Nutt.) Rydb.

Few to numerous green to whitish green flowers, variable geographically; lip lanceolate, dilated at base; spur tapered, .4–1.2 cm long, equal to lip in length; leaves slender, decreasing in size upward late spring to summer Occasional to common in wetlands and gravels north and west, rare south range: Alaska, Colo., Conn., Idaho, Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., Mont., N.H., N.J., N.M., N.Y., Ore., R.I., S.D., Utah, Vt., Wash., Wis., Wyo.; Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Y.T.

Short-leaved rein orchid Platanthera brevifolia (Greene) Kranzlin

syn.: Limnorchis brevifolia (Greene) Rydb. forma alba P.M. Brown: albino form

Few to many green or greenish yellow flowers; lip linear; spur cylindric, .9–2 cm long; leaves very short and stiff midsummer Local on wooded slopes range: N.M.

Thurber’s bog orchid Platanthera limosa Lindl.

syn.: Limnorchis limosa (Lindl.) P.M. Brown, S.L. Stewart & R. Gamarra Many green flowers; lateral sepals wide-spreading; lip slender; spur slender and threadlike, .8–2.5 cm long; leaves narrow, decreasing in size upward to slender bracts within and exceeding flowers summer Local in deciduous mountain woodlands range: Ariz., N.M.

Chamisso’s orchid Platanthera chorisiana (Cham.) Reich. f.

syn.: Limnorchis chorisiana (Cham.) J.P. Anderson Few green to yellowgreen flowers; lip oval, projecting; spur stout, .7–1.25 mm long, shorter than lip; leaves broad, few, near base late spring to summer Rare on exposed headlands of Alaskan islands, in bogs inland and south range: Alaska, Wash.; B.C.

Behring orchid Platanthera tipuloides (L. f.) Lindl. var. behringiana (Rydb.) Hultén

syn.: Limnorchis tipuloides var. behringiana (Rydb.) P.M. Brown, S.L. Stewart & R. Gamarra Few greenish yellow flowers; lip yellowish, oblong; spur slender, much longer than lip; leaves few, near base summer Very rare on exposed headlands of Alaskan islands range: Alaska

Lily-leaved rein orchid Platanthera convallariifolia (Fischer) Lindl.

syn.: Limnorchis convallariifolia (Fischer in Lindl.) Rydb. Few to many whitish green flowers; lip linear-rhombic; spur slender to swollen at tip, 4–8 mm long; leaves moderately broad, decreasing in size upward summer Very rare on Alaskan islands, possibly west coast of Alaska range: Alaska

White bog orchid (left) Platanthera dilatata (Pursh) Lindl. var. dilatata syn.: Limnorchis dilatata (Pursh) Rydb.

Few to many white fragrant flowers; lip dilated at base; spur equal in length to lip; leaves narrow to moderately broad, decreasing in size upward late spring to summer Locally abundant in wetlands, roadside ditches, on damp gravels, rare south range: Alaska, Colo., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., N.H., N.Y., Utah, Vt., Wash.; Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Y.T.

Bog candles (center) Platanthera dilatata (Pursh) Lindl. var. albiflora (Cham.) Ledebour syn.: Limnorchis dilatata (Pursh) Rydb. var. albiflora (Cham.) Efimov

Similar to var. dilatata, spur shorter than lip late spring to summer Locally abundant in wetlands, roadside ditches, damp meadows, on gravels range: Alaska, Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Ore., S.D., Utah, Wash., Wyo.; Alta., B.C., Y.T.

Sierra rein orchid (right) Platanthera dilatata (Pursh) Lindl. var. leucostachys (Lindl.) Luer

syn.: Limnorchis dilatata (Pursh) Rydb. var. leucostachys (Lindl.) P.M. Brown, S.L. Stewart & R. Gamarra Similar to var. dilatata, spur markedly longer than lip late spring to summer Locally abundant in wetlands, roadside ditches, meadows, fens, on damp gravels range: Alaska, Calif., Mont., Nev., Ore., Utah, Wash.; B.C.

Slender bog orchid Platanthera stricta Lindl.

syn.: Limnorchis stricta (Lindl.) Rydb. Few to many green to yellow-green flowers; lip lanceolate, blunt; spur pouch-shaped, 2–4 mm long, much shorter than lip; leaves slender, decreasing in size upward summer Occasional to frequent in wetlands, on gravels north and west, rare south, one of most common orchids in Pacific Northwest range: Alaska, Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Ore., Utah, Wash., Wyo.; Alta., B.C., Y.T.

Short-spurred bog orchid Platanthera purpurascens (Rydb.) Sheviak & W.F. Jenn. syn.: Limnorchis purpurascens Rydb.

Few to many dark green (or with purplish cast) flowers; lip lanceolate; spur pouch-shaped, 2–4 mm long, shorter than lip; leaves few, slender, decreasing in size upward summer Rare to local in wetlands, hybridizes or intergrades with similar Platanthera species range: Ariz., Colo., N.M., Wyo.

Yosemite rein orchid Platanthera yosemitensis Colwell, Sheviak & P.E. Moore

syn.: Limnorchis yosemitensis (Colwell, Sheviak & P.E. Moore) P.M. Brown, S.L. Stewart & R. Gamarra Few to many tiny yellow to yellow-green flowers; lip yellow, lanceolate; spur pouch-shaped, 1–2 mm long, much shorter than lip; leaves slender, on lower third of stem summer Very rare in bogs, meadows in Yosemite National Park, described in 2007 range: Calif.

Intermountain rein orchid Platanthera tescamnis Sheviak & W.F. Jenn.

syn.: Limnorchis tescamnis (Sheviak & W.F. Jenn.) P.M. Brown, S.L. Stewart & R. Gamarra

Many green flowers; lip lanceolate, yellowish; spur to 7 mm long, slender and descending, equal to or longer than lip; leaves broad to slender, clustered on lower third of stem, rapidly decreasing in size upward summer Occasional to frequent along streamsides, in wet ditches, on river gravels, described in 2006 range: Ariz., Calif., Colo., Nev., N.M., Utah

Few-flowered rein orchid Platanthera sparsiflora (S. Watson) Schlechter syn.: Limnorchis sparsiflora (S. Watson) Rydb.

Many green to yellow-green flowers; lateral sepals reflexed or nearly so; lip slender, lanceolate; spur tapered, variable in length; leaves slender, decreasing in size upward summer Occasional to frequent in wetlands, on gravels, rare south range: Ariz., Calif., Nev., N.M., Ore.

Cloistered bog orchid Platanthera zothecina (L.C. Higgins & S.L. Welsh) Kartesz & Gandhi syn.: Limnorchis zothecina (L.C. Higgins & S.L. Welsh) W.A. Weber

Few green to whitish green flowers; lip lanceolate, slender; spur prominent, 1.2–1.7 cm long, much longer than lip; leaves nearly basal, lower ones broad, decreasing in size upward summer Rare in hanging gardens near Colorado and San Juan River drainages range: Ariz., Colo., N.M., Utah

Blunt-leafed rein orchid Platanthera obtusata (Banks in Pursh) Lindl. subsp. obtusata

syn.: Lysiella obtusata (Banks in Pursh) Rydb. subsp. obtusata forma collectanea (Fern.) P.M. Brown: dwarfed form forma foliosa P.M. Brown: multiple-leaved form 7–15 green flowers; lip oblong-triangular; spur shorter than lip; single near-basal leaf summer Local to occasional in boreal woodlands, exposed heaths (forma collectanea), rare south range: Alaska, Colo., Idaho, Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., Mont., N.H., N.Y., Ore., Utah, Vt., Wash., Wis., Wyo; Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld., N.W.T., N.S., Nunavut, Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Y.T.

Few-flowered blunt-leafed rein orchid Platanthera obtusata (Banks in Pursh) Lindl. subsp. oligantha (Turcz.) Hultén syn.: Lysiella obtusata subsp. oligantha (Turcz.) Tolm.

photos: d. & u. rueckbrodt

3–5 green flowers; lip rhombic-lanceolate, broadened at base; spur 2.5–3 mm long; single basal leaf; plant 3–6 cm tall summer Very rare in boreal forest, tundra on Aleutian Islands, perhaps on Alaskan mainland range: Alaska

Hooker’s orchid Platanthera hookeri (Torrey) Lindl.

syn.: Lysias hookeriana (Torrey) Rydb. forma abbreviata (Fern.) P.M. Brown: dwarfed form forma oblongifolia (J.A. Paine) P.M. Brown: narrow-leaved form 4–12 green flowers shaped like ice tongs or gargoyles; lip long-triangular; spur longer than lip; 2 egg-shaped basal leaves early summer Local throughout in rich woodlands; forma abbreviata rare in open heaths in Newfoundland south range: Conn., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., N.H., N.J., N.Y., Ohio, Pa., R.I., Vt., Wis.; Man., N.B., Nfld., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que.

Goldie’s pad-leaved orchid Platanthera macrophylla (Goldie) P.M. Brown syn.: Lysias macrophylla (Goldie) Rydb.

Few to many greenish white flowers; lip linearoblong; spur slender, 2.8–4.6 cm long; 2 large, round to oval leaves lying flat on ground; plants with little or no variation early summer Local in rich woodlands; rarely growing with P. orbiculata range: Conn., Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., N.H., N.Y., Pa., Vt.; N.B., Nfld., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que.

Pad-leaved orchid Platanthera orbiculata (Pursh) Lindl.

syn.: Lysias orbiculata (Pursh) Rydb. forma lehorsii (Fern.) P.M. Brown: dwarfed form forma trifolia (Mousley) P.M. Brown: three-leaved form forma pauciflora (Jennings) P.M. Brown: few-flowered form Few to many greenish white flowers; lip linear-oblong; spur slender, 1.4–2.8 cm long; 2 large, round to oval leaves lying flat on ground early summer Local in rich woodlands, on open headlands (forma lehorsii  ) in eastern Canada range: Conn., Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., N.H., N.Y., Pa., Vt.; N.B., Nfld., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que.

Southern tubercled orchid Platanthera flava (L.) Lindl. var. flava syn.: Tulotis flava (L.) Senghas

Few to many green to yellow-green flowers; lip square with a prominent bump; spur 4–8 mm long; lower leaves broad, rapidly decreasing in size upward to bracts equal to or shorter than flowers late spring to early summer Rare to local in wet woodlands, meadows range: Ala., Ark., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., La., Miss., Mo., N.C., Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va.; N.S., Ont.

Northern tubercled orchid Platanthera flava (L.) Lindl. var. herbiola (R. Brown) Luer

syn.: Tulotis flava (L.) Senghas var. herbiola (R. Brown) W.J. Schrenk forma lutea (Boivin) Whiting & Catling: yellowflowered form Few to many green to yellow-green flowers; lip oblong with a prominent bump; spur 4–8 mm long; lower leaves broad, rapidly decreasing in size upward to bracts exceeding flowers in length late spring to early summer Rare to local in wet woods, meadows, along riverbanks range: Ark., Conn., Del., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mo., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., R.I., Tex., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis.; N.B., N.S., Ont., Que.

The following hybrids were transferred to the genus Limnorchis by P.M. Brown, S.L. Stewart, and R. Gamarra, North American Native Orchid Journal 15 (2): 2009. Correll’s hybrid rein orchid Platanthera ×correllii W.J. Schrenk

(P. aquilonis × P. stricta)

▲

Estes hybrid rein orchid Platanthera ×estesii W.J. Schrenk (P. dilatata var. albiflora × P. stricta)

Mt. Evans hybrid rein orchid Platanthera ×evansiana P.M. Brown (P. aquilonis × P. purpurascens)

Folsom’s hybrid rein orchid Platanthera ×folsomii P.M. Brown

(P. dilatata var. leucostachys × P. yosemitensis)

▲ Kelley’s hybrid rein orchid Platanthera ×kelleyi P.M. Brown (P. sparsiflora × P. tescamnis)

▲ Lassen hybrid rein orchid Platanthera ×lassenii W.J. Schrenk ▲

(P. dilatata var. leucostachys × P. sparsiflora)

Smith’s hybrid rein orchid Platanthera ×smithii P.M. Brown (P. aquilonis × P. tescamnis)

petals

sepals

spur lip

sepal lip

sepal spur

spur

lip reduced leaves

basal leaves

stem leaves Drawings by Stan Folsom

This basic key to the bog and rein orchids does not accommodate color forms or hybrids. All species of Platanthera vary greatly in their overall size and number of flowers. Plants found in the shade tend to be much taller and sparser, while those in the sun, shorter and stockier with denser inflorescences, often appear to be different species. Species pairs and groups with natural relationships are not unusual, and to help in comparisons they have been grouped in that manner in this guide. 1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b

9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b 14a 14b 15a 15b

lip with a distinct bump: P. flava lip otherwise: 2 leaves basal: 3 leaves on stem: 6 leaf solitary: P. obtusata leaves 2 or more: 4 flowers small, less than 1 cm i: spur stout: P. chorisiana ii: spur slender: P. tipuloides flowers larger, greater than 1 cm: 5 lip triangular: P. hookeri lip oblong i: spur less than 2.8 cm long: P. orbiculata ii: spur more than 2.8 cm long: P. macrophylla leaves or leaf clustered on lower portion of stem: 7 leaves well distributed along stem: 8 leaf solitary: P. obtusata leaves 2 or more: 9 spur very short, 1–2 mm, pouch-shaped; flowers tiny; lip yellow: P. yosemitensis spur equal to length of lip or longer, cylindrical i: spur transverse to stem or nearly so, flowers often whitish green, lip tapering to tip: P. zothecina ii: spur descending or nearly so, lip yellowish, tip blunt: P. tescamnis flowers decidedly white: P. dilatata flowers essentially green, greenish yellow, or greenish white: 10 spur much shorter than lip, usually club- or pouch-shaped: 11 spur 3/4 length of lip or longer: 13 plants slender with small flowers in wandlike inflorescence, lip often stained with bluish purple: P. purpurascens plants variable but usually robust with flowers in tall, dense spike: 12 lip linear-rhombic with straight sides, spur 2/3 length of lip or slightly shorter: P. convallariifolia lip oblong, spur much shorter than lip: P. stricta leaves uniform in size, very short, often appearing as bracts: P. brevifolia leaves graduating in size: 14 lip moderately dilated at base, whitish green; spur equal to lip in length: P. huronensis lip otherwise: 15 lip rhombic-linear, yellowish; spur equal to lip in length: P. aquilonis lip slender or oblong i: lateral sepals wide-spreading, lip yellow: P. limosa ii: lateral sepals reflexed or nearly so, lip green: P. sparsiflora

Woodland and Bog Rein Orchids in Your Pocket the genus Platanthera is the largest genus of orchids to be found in North America north of Mexico; the luminously green woodland and bog rein orchids comprise a significant group of species found throughout much of the temperate U.S. and Canada. Compiled and illustrated by long-time orchid specialist Paul Martin Brown, this pocket guide forms part of a series that will cover all the wild orchids of the continental United States and Canada.   Brown provides a description, general distributional information, time of flowering, and habitat requirements for each species as well as a complete list of hybrids and the many different growth and color forms that can make identifying orchids so challenging. For the woodland and bog rein orchids, which make up some of the most delicate and subtly colored of all wild orchids, he includes information on nineteen species, four subspecies and varieties, and seven hybrids.   By comparing the living plants with the striking photos in this backpack-friendly laminated guide, then using the simple key, professional and amateur naturalists should be able to achieve the satisfaction of identifying the native orchids that present a welcome surprise to observant hikers.

a bur oak guide

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