Home Orchidaceae Platanthera

Platanthera blephariglottis (Willd.) Lindl.

Common Name: WHITE FRINGED ORCHID
Coefficient of Conservatism: 10
Coefficient of Wetness: -5
Wetness Index: OBL
Physiognomy: Nt P-Forb

Habenaria blephariglottis of Michigan Flora.

Only in sphagnum bogs, seldom much shaded though often associated with black spruce and tamarack.

This species is often difficult to distinguish from P. ciliaris when the specimens are dry, if there is no note as to the color of the fresh flowers. Hybrids, with all intermediates between the two, including lemon-yellow flowers, are known from Allegan, Berrien, and Van Buren Cos. [P. × bicolor (Raf.) Luer]. See a photo of a lemon-yellow P. × bicolor in the front of one illustration of Woodwardia virginica. Platanthera × vossii Case is a rare hybrid with P. clavellata described from northern Michigan (Case 1983).

Rarely, the lip is entire in this species (forma holopetala (Lindl.) P. M. Br. This form might be thought to be the hybrid Platanthera × vossii, which, however, is more greenish tinted, and has vestigial fringes on the lip (unless the hybrid were to be formed with the rare forma holopetala!), and has smaller flowers tilted in the spikes somewhat like those of P. clavellata (see image).

C. Peirce

Click image to view gallery

Counties
Allegan
Antrim
Arenac
Barry
Berrien
Charlevoix
Cheboygan
Emmet
Grand Traverse
Kalkaska
Kent
Lake
Leelanau
Mecosta
Montcalm
Montmorency
Newaygo
Ogemaw
Otsego
Ottawa
Tuscola
Van Buren
Wexford

Citation:
MICHIGAN FLORA ONLINE. A. A. Reznicek, E. G. Voss, & B. S. Walters. February 2011. University of Michigan. Web. March, 16, 2025
https://lsa-miflora-p.lsait.lsa.umich.edu/#/record/1825