[Bog Orchids: The Genus Platanthera West of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Canyon Bog Orchid, Needle-spur Green Orchid, Slender Bog Orchid

Platanthera stricta

Synonyms: Habenaria hyperborea var. viridiflora, Habenaria saccata, Habenaria stricta, Limnorchis saccata, Limnorchis stricta, Limnorchis viridiflora, Platanthera convallariifolia, Platanthera dilatata var. gracilis, Platanthera hyperborea var. viridiflora, Platanthera saccata

Close-up view of the flower of Canyon Bog Orchid, Needle-spur Green Orchid, Slender Bog Orchid: Platanthera stricta (Synonyms: Habenaria hyperborea var. viridiflora, Habenaria saccata, Habenaria stricta, Limnorchis saccata, Limnorchis stricta, Limnorchis viridiflora, Platanthera convallariifolia, Platanthera dilatata var. gracilis, Platanthera hyperborea var. viridiflora, Platanthera saccata)

Slender bog orchid as seen at moist seeps at about 4300' atop the ridge dividing the Cougar and Dairy Creek drainages on the southeastern side of Mt. Adams........July 10, 2005. Note the double-pouched, sac-like spur which is shorter than the lower lip.

Canyon Bog Orchid, Needle-spur Green Orchid, Slender Bog Orchid: Platanthera stricta (Synonyms: Habenaria hyperborea var. viridiflora, Habenaria saccata, Habenaria stricta, Limnorchis saccata, Limnorchis stricta, Limnorchis viridiflora, Platanthera convallariifolia, Platanthera dilatata var. gracilis, Platanthera hyperborea var. viridiflora, Platanthera saccata)Photo at right of Slender Bog Orchid from Steamboat Mt, Gifford Pinchot N.F...........early September, 1989.
Characteristics:

Slender coral root is a small flowered orchid of very moist places. The plant is yellowish-green to green in color. The lower leaves surround or sheath the stem, while the middle stem leaves are larger, parrallel-veined, of elliptic or rounded/obtuse shape. These maybe 30 to 100 mm long and about 10 to 30 mm wide. The uppermost leaves are reduced in size, and tend to be narrower or linear-lanceolate in shape.

The flowers are green and somewhat fragrant. The upper sepal is broadly ovate and somewhat hooded, to 5 mm long. The lower sepals are 5 to 6 mm long and broadly lanceolate in shape. The petals are fleshy and about the size of the upper sepal. The lower lip forms a scrotiform spur which is about one-half to two-thirds as long as the lip.


Habitat:

Slender bog orchid is found in boggy or very moist places such as springs, wet meadows, and roadside ditches.


Range:

Slender bog orchid is found from Alaska south to Alberta, then further south to northwestern New Mexico and westward to the Pacific Northwest and northern California.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations of 2600'-4300' between Crown Point in the west and Dog Mt. and Mt. Defiance in the east.


Canyon Bog Orchid, Needle-spur Green Orchid, Slender Bog Orchid: Platanthera stricta (Synonyms: Habenaria hyperborea var. viridiflora, Habenaria saccata, Habenaria stricta, Limnorchis saccata, Limnorchis stricta, Limnorchis viridiflora, Platanthera convallariifolia, Platanthera dilatata var. gracilis, Platanthera hyperborea var. viridiflora, Platanthera saccata) - Canyon Bog Orchid, Needle-spur Green Orchid, Slender Bog Orchid: Platanthera stricta (Synonyms: Habenaria hyperborea var. viridiflora, Habenaria saccata, Habenaria stricta, Limnorchis saccata, Limnorchis stricta, Limnorchis viridiflora, Platanthera convallariifolia, Platanthera dilatata var. gracilis, Platanthera hyperborea var. viridiflora, Platanthera saccata) - Canyon Bog Orchid, Needle-spur Green Orchid, Slender Bog Orchid: Platanthera stricta (Synonyms: Habenaria hyperborea var. viridiflora, Habenaria saccata, Habenaria stricta, Limnorchis saccata, Limnorchis stricta, Limnorchis viridiflora, Platanthera convallariifolia, Platanthera dilatata var. gracilis, Platanthera hyperborea var. viridiflora, Platanthera saccata) - Canyon Bog Orchid, Needle-spur Green Orchid, Slender Bog Orchid: Platanthera stricta (Synonyms: Habenaria hyperborea var. viridiflora, Habenaria saccata, Habenaria stricta, Limnorchis saccata, Limnorchis stricta, Limnorchis viridiflora, Platanthera convallariifolia, Platanthera dilatata var. gracilis, Platanthera hyperborea var. viridiflora, Platanthera saccata)

Slender bog orchids in bloom in moist meadows along the Pacific Crest Trail #20000 on Mt. Ashland, Klamath National Forest.......July 22, 2021.

Canyon Bog Orchid, Needle-spur Green Orchid, Slender Bog Orchid: Platanthera stricta (Synonyms: Habenaria hyperborea var. viridiflora, Habenaria saccata, Habenaria stricta, Limnorchis saccata, Limnorchis stricta, Limnorchis viridiflora, Platanthera convallariifolia, Platanthera dilatata var. gracilis, Platanthera hyperborea var. viridiflora, Platanthera saccata)

Photo above of Platanthera stricta from Stringer Meadows, beneath High Rock, Mount Hood N.F.........7-20-94.

Paul Slichter