Platanthera aquilonis
Platanthera hyperborea
eagle rein orchid, north wind bog-orchid, northern bog orchid, northern green bog orchid, northern green orchid, northern green rein orchid, Sheviak's bog orchid
few–several, ascending to arcuate-spreading, scattered along stem, gradually reduced to bracts distally;
blade oblong to linear-lanceolate, 2.7–23 × 0.4–4 cm.
few–several, ascending to arcuate-spreading, scattered along stem or clustered at base, sometimes in basal rosette, gradually reduced to bracts distally;
blade elliptic-oblong to ovate-oblong or linear-lanceolate, 3–14 × 0.4–4 cm.
lax to very dense.
lax to very dense.
resupinate, not showy, yellowish green with dull yellowish lip, or more whitish green under cool conditions;
lateral sepals spreading to reflexed;
petals rhombic-ovate- to lance-falcate, margins entire;
lip descending, projecting, or apex adhering to dorsal sepal and petal apices, rhombic-lanceolate to lanceolate, without basal thickening, 2.5–6 × 1–1.5 mm, base not rounded-dilated, margins entire;
spur clavate or sometimes rather cylindric, 2–5 mm, apex usually broadly obtuse;
rostellum lobes divergent, directed downward, very small, rounded, obscure;
pollinaria straight;
pollinia rotating forward and/or fragmenting, loose pollen masses free of anther sacs and trailing downward onto stigma;
viscidia orbiculate;
ovary rather slender to stout, mostly 5–13 mm.
resupinate, not showy but sometimes conspicuous, yellowish or perhaps whitish green;
lateral sepals spreading to slightly reflexed;
petals ovate-falcate, margins entire;
lip descending, usually ovate with abruptly dilated base or occasionally lanceolate with less prominent dilation, without basal thickening, 4–5.5(–6) × (1.5–)2–2.5 mm;
spur clavate, somewhat tapering toward obtuse apex, 4–6 mm;
rostellum lobes divergent, directed downward, very small, obscure, rounded;
pollinaria straight;
pollinia often protruding from anther sacs, commonly fragmenting and pollen masses trailing onto stigma;
viscidia linear to linear-oblong;
ovary rather slender to stout, mostly 6–10 mm.
= 42.
= 84.
Platanthera aquilonis
Platanthera hyperborea
Flowers of Platanthera aquilonis are usually scentless, but in the far northwest they have a sweet, pungent scent, like that of some related species. The flowers are commonly self-pollinating: the pollinia rotate forward and downward, contacting the stigma, and/or the pollen masses dissociate and are deposited on the stigma as if they had sifted downward.
Platanthera aquilonis is a North American diploid species long confused with the tetraploid Icelandic P. hyperborea (Linnaeus) Lindley. Flowers of both species autopollinate, although the details of the mechanisms may differ. The two species differ in column structure and lip and viscidium shape. True P. hyperborea is similar to P. huronensis, and the relationship of these two species needs further study.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
The relationship between Platanthera hyperborea and P. huronensis is unclear. Typical Icelandic material differs from P. huronensis in its shorter, broader, more extremely dilated, and evidently often yellowish lip; shorter, more strongly clavate spur; and narrower viscidia. The plants furthermore appear to be autogamous. Most Greenland material appears to be entirely comparable to these Icelandic plants. In both areas, however, considerable variation occurs, and some plants suggest P. huronensis. Whether this variation reflects the occurrence in these areas of two taxa or is within P. hyperborea is unknown.
Platanthera hyperborea refers to a bewildering complex that has defied satisfactory treatment. The number and delimitation of species, indeed, the nature of species, in the group is unclear. The system proposed here utilizes more characters than past attempts and it is to be hoped it is an improvement over its predecessors, but it is far from definitive. Hybridization is frequently invoked as an explanation for much of the variation encountered in the group, and some of the possible crossings have been given names. Until species can be properly delimited, however, it is premature to recognize putative hybrids with formal epithets.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
- Local floras:
BC, 
CA, 
OR, 
WA - Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos,
Flora NW, 
Go Botany, 
IL Wildflowers, 
MI Flora, 
MN Wildflowers, 
PNW Herbaria, 
SW CO Wildflowers, Turner Photog. 
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist (observations)
USDA Plants Database- LBJ Wildflower Center
- SEINet
- Plants of the World Online
- Encyclopedia of Life
- Wikipedia
- Google Image Search
- Local floras: BC, CA, OR, WA
- Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos, Flora NW, PNW Herbaria, Turner Photog.
- WildflowerSearch
- iNaturalist (observations)
- USDA Plants Database
- LBJ Wildflower Center
- SEINet
- Plants of the World Online
- Encyclopedia of Life
- Wikipedia
- Google Image Search
