Platanthera clavellata
Platanthera lacera
little club-spur bog-orchid, small green wood orchid
green fringe bog-orchid, green fringe orchid
1(–2), on basal half of stem, ascending to spreading, usually abruptly reduced to bracts distally;
blade oblanceolate to oblong, linear-oblong, or elliptic, 3–19 × 0.8–3.5 cm.
1–4, wide-spreading to ascending, scattered along stem, gradually to abruptly reduced to bracts distally;
blade linear-lanceolate, linear-oblong, or oblong-obovate, 7–23 × 0.7–5 cm.
moderately dense.
lax to dense.
resupinate, often incompletely so and held at angle, not showy, rather inconspicuous pale green to dull yellowish green;
lateral sepals porrect;
petals ovate to obovate;
lip oblong, obscurely 3-lobed, without basal thickening, 3–7 × 3–4 mm, margins sometimes dentate-lacerate, apex truncate;
spur clavate, 7–13 mm;
rostellum lobes directed downward, very short, truncate;
pollinaria straight or slightly curved laterally;
pollinia fragmenting, pollen masses trailing down onto stigma;
viscidia linear to linear lanceolate;
ovary rather stout, 6–11 mm.
resupinate, not showy to inconspicuous, whitish green or yellowish green, lip often paler;
lateral sepals reflexed;
petals linear to narrowly oblong-spatulate, margins entire or apex rarely slightly lacerate;
lip descending, without basal thickening, deeply 3-lobed, 10–17 × 13–17 mm, lobes extensively and deeply divided, commonly into filiform divisions, margins rarely merely fringed or middle lobe merely lacerate-fringed, lateral lobes narrowly to broadly cuneate, middle lobe cuneate-flabellate, usually narrow;
spur slenderly to markedly clavate, 11–23 mm;
rostellum lobes nearly parallel, directed downward, short, rounded;
pollinaria nearly straight;
pollinia remaining enclosed in anther sacs;
viscidia linear;
ovary slender to stout, mostly 8–20 mm.
= 42.
= 42.
Platanthera clavellata
Platanthera lacera
In common with Platanthera nivea and P. integra, the column of P. clavellata bears a series of lateral projections that are directed forward; the upper pair is elaborately adorned and may be glandular. It appears that this species is inappropriately placed in Platanthera. See note under 30. P. nivea.
The broader leaves cited as distinguishing Platanthera clavellata var. ophioglossoides are more prevalent in the North, but occur throughout the range of the species. In some areas populations commonly display a complete range of leaf shape; this feature alone is of no taxonomic significance.
The unusual and infrequent hybrid Platanthera blephariglottis × P. clavellata is P. ×vossii Case.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Hybrids with Platanthera grandiflora (P. ×keenanii P. M. Brown; see note under 20. P. grandiflora) and P. psycodes [P. ×andrewsii (M. White) Luer] are variably intermediate between the parents, with various purple-green shadings and lobes of the lip generally narrower and more dissected than in the purple-flowered parents. The linear viscidia of P. lacera and the large anther sacs of P. grandiflora provide means for determination. The ratio of viscidium length/width of 1–3.2 distinguishes hybrids and purple-flowered parents from P. lacera, which is characterized by a ratio of 2.7–4.6. The parentage of hybrids can be determined by different sized anther sacs: P. ×andrewsii, 1.4–2.3 mm; P. ×keenanii, 2.5–4.2 mm. Those hybrids can be distinguished from their purple-flowered parents by less intense coloring and the ratio of viscidium length/width: P. psycodes 1–1.5; P. ×andrewsii, 1.3–3; P. grandiflora, 1–1.5; P. ×keenanii, 1.5–3.2. The plants known as Platanthera lacera var. terrae-novae (Fernald) Luer (Habenaria lacera var. terrae-novae Fernald) apparently represent swarms of P. ×andrewsii and introgressed P. lacera (P. M. Catling and V. R. Catling 1994).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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