Platanthera aquilonis - (image 1 of 5)
Taxonomy
Family: Orchidaceae
Habitat
Fens, open swamps, calcareous springy areas.
Associates
Distribution
Newfoundland and Labrador to AK, south to northern NJ, PA, OH, IN, IL, MN, NM and ID.
Morphology
Erect, stout perennial to 60 cm; leaves alternate, cauline; lowest leaf bladeless; principle leaves lanceolate to oblanceolate, the upper smaller and passing into the bracts; flowers numerous in a terminal, compact, elongate spike; bracts lanceolate, the lower surpassing the flowers; flowers greenish-white; lip simple, entire, rhombic-lanceolate, blunt, 2.5-6 mm long; lateral petals lance-ovate, incurved under the upper sepals; spur slender, equal to the lip; anther sacs converging from their separate bases, more or less touching each other at the apex; pollinia rotating forward and/or fragmenting, loose pollen masses free of anther sacs and falling downward onto the stigma.
Notes
Flowers June to July
Wetland indicator: FACW
This species differs from P. huronensis in that it is usually self-pollinating and has the anther sacs converging and rotating forward onto the stigma with loose pollen masses falling onto it. The lip also tends to be shorter and the spikes more compact. Both were included in P. hyperborea in the past.
References
Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY
Sheviak, C.J. 2002. Platanthera, In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee, Eds. Flora of North America North of Mexico. Volume 26. Oxford University Press, New York.
USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov).
National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
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Michael Hough © 2018 |