Platanthera elegans(synonym of Piperia elegans) |
Platanthera unalascensis |
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elegant rein orchid, hillside rein orchid |
Alaska rein orchid, short-spurred piperia |
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Stems | 15–65 cm tall. |
20–60 cm tall. |
Leaves | 2–4, oblong to oblanceolate, 10–15 × 1–4 cm; apex obtuse; basal leaves prostrate and flaccid, withering at or before anthesis. |
basal, 2–4, oblanceolate, 10–12 × 1–3 cm, prostrate and flaccid, withering at or before anthesis; apex obtuse. |
Inflorescences | densely to loosely 20–60 or more-flowered. |
densely to loosely 20–60 or more-flowered. |
Flowers | more or less spreading, white to whitish green; dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, 3–5 × 1–2 mm, often with a greenish central stripe; lateral sepals oblong-lanceolate, slightly oblique, 3–5 × 1–2 mm, spreading to recurved; petals ovate-lanceolate, slightly oblique, 2–5 × 1–2 mm, spreading, often with a greenish central stripe; lip triangular-lanceolate, dilated at base and constricted below the middle, 2–6 × 2–3 mm, descending to deflexed; spur curved and descending; much longer than lip, 15–18 mm, often white or greenish white fading to green at tip. |
more or less spreading, green to greenish yellow; dorsal sepal ovate, 2–4 × 1–2 mm, converging with petals; lateral sepals ovate, 2–4 × 1–2 mm, spreading to recurved; petals ovate-lanceolate, sickleshaped, 2–4 × 1–1.5 mm, converging with dorsal sepal and forming a hood over the column; lip ovate-elliptic, 2–4 × 1–3 mm, often descending; spur more or less equal in length to lip; cylindrical and tapering, 3–4 mm. |
2n | =42. |
=42. |
Platanthera elegans |
Platanthera unalascensis |
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Distribution | ||
Discussion | Shady to open forests and woodlands, meadows, shrubby hillsides, roadsides, coastal bluffs. Flowering Jun–Aug. 0–1400m. BW, Casc, CR, ECas, Est, Lava, Sisk, WV. CA, ID, WA; north to British Columbia, northeast to MT. Native. Plants in open sites or on coastal bluffs are often compact with densely flowered stems. |
Shady forests, meadows, rocky hillsides. Flowering Jun–Aug. 0–2200m. BR, BW, Casc, CR, ECas, Lava, Sisk, WV. CA, ID, NV, WA; throughout western and northern North America. Native. Coastal individuals may be distinctly shorter and more densely flowered than those from inland populations. |
Source | Flora of Oregon, volume 1, page 327 James Riser |
Flora of Oregon, volume 1, page 329 James Riser |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Habenaria elegans, Habenaria greenei, Habenaria unalascensis var. elata, Piperia elegans, Piperia elegans ssp. elegans, Piperia maritima, Piperia multiflora | Habenaria unalascensis, Piperia unalascensis |
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