Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Platanthera obtusata
small northern bog-orchid, blunt-leaf rein-orchid, one-leaf rein-orchid
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Okanogan County, Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east to Montana, Wyoming and Colorado, east across Canada to the Great Lakes region and northeastern North America; Eurasia.

Habitat: Damp to wet forests at mid-elevations in the mountains.

Flowers: June-July

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Self-pollination, flies

Description:
General:

Scapose, glabrous perennial 8-20 cm. tall.

Leaves:

Leaves usually 1, rarely 2, basal, in addition to 1 or 2 sheathing bracts, the blade elliptic-oblanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate, 3-10 cm. long and 1/3 to 1/4 as broad, rounded, gradually tapered to a winged petiole 1/4 as long to nearly as long as the blade.

Flowers:

Inflorescence a 3- to 15-flowered raceme, the pedicles 1-5 mm. long, the floral bracts green and up to 15 mm. long on the lower part to yellowish and 2 mm. long above; flowers pale greenish or yellowish-green, the petals sometimes whitish; upper sepal sub-orbicular, 3-4 mm. long, erect; lower sepals obliquely triangular-ovate, 4-6 mm. long, somewhat reflexed; petals about equal to the upper sepal, broadly lanceolate; lip narrowly strap-shaped, about 1.5 mm. broad and 5-9 mm. long, pendant, but with an upturned tip, and 2 small, oblong growths near the base; spur tapered from the base, curved, 5-8 mm. long; stamens and style fused to form a column 2-3.5 mm. long with lateral growths projecting upward.

Accepted Name:
Platanthera obtusata (Banks ex Pursh) Lindl.
Publication: Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 284. 1835.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Habenaria obtusata (Banks ex Pursh) Richardson [HC]
Orchis obtusata Banks ex Pursh
Infraspecies:
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Platanthera obtusata in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.

WA Flora Checklist: Platanthera obtusata checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Platanthera obtusata information.

E-Flora BC: Platanthera obtusata atlas page.

CalPhotos: Platanthera obtusata photos.

USDA Plants: Platanthera obtusata information.

2 photographs:
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