Platanthera grandiflora
Platanthera aquilonis
greater purple fringe bog-orchid, greater purple fringe orchid
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
2–6, wide-spreading and recurved to somewhat ascending, scattered along stem, gradually reduced to bracts distally;
blade lanceolate, elliptic, oblong-elliptic, or oblong-obovate, 13–24 × 2.5–9 cm.
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.
lax to rather dense.
lax to very dense.
resupinate, showy, lavender- to rose-purple, rarely white;
lateral sepals spreading to somewhat reflexed;
petals ovate, oblong, elliptic-oblong, or oblong-obovate, margins crenate to dentate-lacerate, sometimes nearly entire;
lip descending to somewhat porrect, deeply 3-lobed, without basal thickening, 10–25 × 14–26 mm, distal margins of lobes fringed, usually deeply, lateral lobes sometimes perpendicular to middle lobe, lateral lobes cuneate, often broadly so, middle lobe broadly cuneate-flabellate, often emarginate to 2-fid;
spur clavate, 15–35 mm;
rostellum lobes directed forward, spreading, angular;
pollinaria nearly straight;
pollinia remaining enclosed in anther sacs;
viscidia orbiculate;
ovary slender to stout, 12–25 mm.
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.
= 42.
= 42.
Platanthera grandiflora
Platanthera aquilonis
Platanthera grandiflora is known to hybridize with P. lacera in the northeasternmost portion of its range, where the species bloom simultaneously. The name P. ×keenanii P. M. Brown has recently been proposed for these hybrids, but the complex synonymy of this group dictates that types be checked for possible priority. See the discussion under P. lacera. A few specimens also suggest very rare hybridization with P. psycodes (W. P. Stoutamire 1974).
Rare white-flowered plants may be separated from 23. Platanthera leucophaea by the orientation of the pollinia.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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.)
MD Biodiversity- Local floras:
BC, 
OR, 
WA - Local Web sites:
Flora NW, 
Go Botany, 
IL Wildflowers, 
MI Flora, 
MN Wildflowers, 
PNW Herbaria, 
SW CO Wildflowers 
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist (observations)
USDA Plants Database- LBJ Wildflower Center
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