Platanthera flava
northern tubercled bog-orchid, palegreen orchid
(1–)2–3(–4), spreading to ascending, gradually to rather abruptly reduced to bracts distally;
blade lanceolate to elliptic-oblong, 5–35 × 1–7 cm.
lax to dense.
resupinate, inconspicuous, yellowish green;
lateral sepals porrect to reflexed;
petals oblong-orbiculate to ovate, apex somewhat crenulate;
lip descending to commonly reflexed, 2–6 × 1.8–5 mm, base auriculate, with prominent central tubercle, distal margin entire to slightly crenulate;
spur cylindric to strongly clavate, 4–8(–11) mm, apex rarely 2-lobed;
rostellum lobes mostly parallel to slightly diverging, directed downward, minute, obscure;
pollinia remaining enclosed in anther sacs;
viscidia mostly quadrangular, oblong-quadrangular, orbiculate, or broadly asymmetric, commonly canaliculate to nearly cylindric and difficult to assess;
ovary rather slender to stout, mostly 8–10 × 2 mm.
Platanthera flava
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Lip (excluding auricles) subquadrangular, suborbiculate, or broadly ovate, often emarginate; inflorescences usually rather lax, slender (this enhanced by floral bracts mostly shorter than flowers). | var. flava |
1. Lip (excluding auricles) oblong, usually obtuse, (rarely triangular, acute); inflorescences usually rather dense, stout (this emphasized by floral bracts usually long, often greatly exceeding flowers). | var. herbiola |
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