[Rein Orchids: The Genus Piperia in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Alaska Rein Orchid, Short-spurred Orchid, Short-spurred Piperia, Slender-spire Orchid

Platanthera unalascensis

Synonyms: Habenaria schischmareffiana, Habenaria unalascensis, Piperia unalascensis, Platanthera foetida, Spiranthes unalascensis

Alaska Rein Orchid, Short-spurred Orchid, Short-spurred Piperia, Slender-spire Orchid: Platanthera unalascensis (Synonyms: Habenaria schischmareffiana, Habenaria unalascensis, Piperia unalascensis, Platanthera foetida, Spiranthes unalascensis) -Alaska Rein Orchid, Short-spurred Orchid, Short-spurred Piperia, Slender-spire Orchid: Platanthera unalascensis (Synonyms: Habenaria schischmareffiana, Habenaria unalascensis, Piperia unalascensis, Platanthera foetida, Spiranthes unalascensis) - Inflorescence of Alaska Rein Orchid, Short-spurred Orchid, Short-spurred Piperia, Slender-spire Orchid: Platanthera unalascensis (Synonyms: Habenaria schischmareffiana, Habenaria unalascensis, Piperia unalascensis, Platanthera foetida, Spiranthes unalascensis)

The photo at left shows short-spurred bog orchid from the Sleepy Hollow Road, Major Creek Plateau, Columbia River Gorge.......July 1991. The photo at center shows short-spurred bog orchid from the Grassy Knoll Trailhead, Gifford Pinchot N.F........July 7, 1991. The image at right shows the inflorescence of slender bog orchid as seen along the Cedar Creek Trail #457, Mount Hood National Forest......July 5, 2025.
Characteristics:

Short-spurred bog orchid is a small flowered orchid of very moist places. The plant is yellowish-green to green in color and may grow to 70 cm tall. The two to four leaves are largely basal, lance-shaped but broadest near the tip. They are parallel-veined, may reach 20 cm in length, and often wither quickly.

The flowers are green or greenish-white. They are not fragrant. The spur is cylindrical and of equal length to the lower lip. The flowers are closely packed and form a lengthy raceme. The lower lip is linear to triangular-ovate in shape.

Habitat:

Short-spurred bog orchid is found in dry to moist coniferous forests, and in moist meadows and damp streamside areas.

Range:

Short-spurred bog orchid is found from Alaska south to Baja California, and eastward to Quebec, Ontario, the western regions of South Dakota, Colorado, and Nevada.

Paul Slichter