[The Orchid Family East of the Cascade Mts. of Oregon and Washington]

Rein and Bog Orchids East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington

The Genus Platanthera


Northern Green Bog Orchid: Platanthera aquilonis

Choriso's Orchid, Choriso Bog Orchid: Platanthera chorisiana (Synonyms: Habenaria chorisiana, Limnorchis chorisiana, Pseudodiphryllum chorisianum)

Short-spurred Bog Orchid: Platanthera dilatata var. albiflora (Synonym: Habenaria dilatata var. albiflora)

Bog Candles, Scent Bottle Orchid, White Bog Orchid, White Rein-orchid: Platanthera dilatata var. dilatata (Synonyms: Habenaria dilatata var. dilatata, Limnorchis dilatata) - Two or more leaves scattered along the scape. The cylindrical spur is shorter than or equaling the lip. Flowers white.

Long-spurred Bog Orchid, Sierra Bog Orchid, White Bog Orchid:: Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys (Synonyms: Habenaria dilatata var. leuchostachys, Habenaria leucostachys, Limnorchis graminifolia, Limnorchis leucostachys, Limnorchis leucostachys var. leucostachys, Limnorchis leucostachys var. robusta, Platanthera leucostachys) - Two or more leaves scattered along the scape. The cylindrical spur is much longer than the lip. Flowers white.

Elegant Rein Orchid, Elegant Piperia, Hillside Rein Orchid, Long-spurred Rein Orchid: Platanthera elegans (Synonyms: Habenaria elegans, Habenaria greenei, Habenaria unalascensis var. elata, Piperia elegans ssp. elegans, Piperia maritima, Piperia multiflora) - Plants with fragrant odors. The spur is much longer than the lip.

Denseflower Rein Orchid, Dense-flower Rein Orchid, Green-flowered Piperia: Platanthera elongata (Synonyms: Habenaria elegans, Habenaria schischmareffiana, Habenaria unalascensis ssp. elata, Habenaria unalascensis var. elata, Piperia elegans, Piperia elegans var. elata, Piperia elongata) -

Green Bog Orchid, Green-flowered Bog Orchid, Northern Green Bog Orchid: Platanthera huronensis (Synonyms: Habenaria hyperborea, Habenaria A-media, Limnorchis media, Orchis huronensis, Platanthera hyperborea, Platanthera hyperborea var. huronensis, Platanthera hyperborea var. hyperborea, Platanthera A-media) - Two or more leaves scattered along the scape. The cylindrical spur is shorter than the lip. The flowers are green. The raceme is densely flowered.

Blunt-leaf Rein Orchid, Blunt-leaved Rein Orchid, One-flowered Rein Orchid, Small Northern Bog Orchid: Platanthera obtusata ssp. obtusata (Synonym: Habenaria obtusata) - Solitary leaf at the base of the scape. The flowers are green. The raceme is loosely 3-15 flowered.

Lesser Round-leaved Orchid, Large Round-leaf Orchid: Platanthera orbiculata (Synonyms: Habenaria orbiculata, Orchis orbiculata)

Slender Bog Orchid: Platanthera stricta (Synonyms: Habenaria borealis, Habenaria borealis var. viridiflora, Habenaria saccata, Habenaria sparsiflora, Habenaria stricta, Limnorchis stricta, Limnorchis viridiflora, Platanthera gracilis, Platanthera hyperborea var. viridiflora, Platanthera saccata) - Two or more leaves scattered along the scape. Spur pouched and much shorter than the lip. The flowers are green.

Few-flowered Bog Orchid: Platanthera (Habenaria) sparsiflora - Two or more leaves scattered along the scape. The cylindrical spur is equal to or longer than the lip. The raceme is loosely few-flowered.

Royal Rein Orchid, Suksdorf's Piperia: Platanthera transversa (Synonyms: Habenaria unalascensis var. elata, Habenaria elegans, Piperia transversa) -

Alaska Rein Orchid, Short-spurred Bog Orchid, Short-spurred Piperia, Slender-spire Orchid: Platanthera unalascencis (Synonyms: Habenaria schischmareffiana, Habenaria unalascencis, Piperia unalascensis) - Plants with unpleasant odors. The spur is about as long as the lower lip, or slightly longer.


Paul Slichter