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few-flowered rein orchid, sparse-flowered bog orchid

Stems

25–65 cm tall.

Leaves

cauline, 4–10, oblong to elliptic-lanceolate, 9–18 × 0.5– 2 cm, green through anthesis; lower leaves clasping stem; upper leaves becoming bracts within the inflorescence.

Inflorescences

loosely 20–40-flowered.

Flowers

more or less spreading, green;

dorsal sepal ovate-elliptic, 5–7.5 × 4–6 mm;

lateral sepals elliptic-lanceolate and oblique, 6–10 × 3–4 mm;

petals lanceolate; sickle-shaped, 6–8 × 3–4.5 mm;

lip linear-elliptic to lanceolate, 6–14 × 1.5–3 mm, descending to slightly recurved;

spur cylindrical and tapering; as long or longer than lip.

2n

=42.

Platanthera flava

Platanthera sparsiflora

Distribution
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Wet meadows, roadside ditches, stream sides, fens, seeps, springs. Flowering May–Aug. 0–1900m. Casc, CR, ECas, Est, Sisk. CA, NV; southeast to NM, south to Mexico. Native.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 1, page 328
James Riser
Sibling taxa
P. aquilonis, P. dilatata, P. elegans, P. elongata, P. ephemerantha, P. huronensis, P. obtusata, P. sparsiflora, P. stricta, P. transversa, P. unalascensis
P. aquilonis, P. dilatata, P. elegans, P. elongata, P. ephemerantha, P. huronensis, P. obtusata, P. stricta, P. transversa, P. unalascensis
Synonyms Habenaria dilatata, Habenaria sparsiflora, Habenaria sparsiflora var. laxiflora, Habenaria sparsiflora var. sparsiflora, Limnorchis sparsiflora
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