Platanthera grandiflora
Platanthera nivea
greater purple fringe bog-orchid, greater purple fringe orchid
snowy 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.
1–3, ascending to spreading, abruptly or gradually reduced to bracts distally, often fugaceous and withered at anthesis;
blade linear to linear-lanceolate, 3–31 × 0.3–2 cm.
lax to rather dense.
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.
not resupinate, showy, white;
lateral sepals spreading;
petals linear-oblong to oblong or elliptic, falcate, basally somewhat dilated, margins entire;
lip reflexed ± at middle, linear-elliptic to linear-oblong, without basal thickening, 3–8 × 1–3 mm, margins entire;
spur slenderly cylindric, 10–18 mm;
rostellum lobes directed downward, very short, obscure, rounded;
pollinaria straight, pollinia remaining enclosed in anther sacs;
viscidia oblong to linear-oblong;
ovary slender, 4–12 mm.
= 42.
Platanthera grandiflora
Platanthera nivea
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.)
The column of Platanthera nivea is similar to that of P. clavellata and P. integra and unlike that of other Platanthera species. The columns of these three species bear two pairs of appendages. In P. nivea, on either side of the column and flanking the anther sacs, a cushionlike flap simulates a pollinium; below these structures, elongated slender processes parallel the basal margins of the lip, similar to the situation in Habenaria. Together with its non-resupinate flower and perhaps elongate-spheroidal tuberoids, these characteristics suggest that this species should not be included in Platanthera.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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