Platanthera integrilabia
Platanthera nivea
monkeyface, white fringeless orchid
snowy orchid
2(–3), spreading to ascending, on basal portion of stem, abruptly reduced to bracts distally;
blade lanceolate to elliptic, 12–23 × 1–3.2 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.
rather lax.
dense.
resupinate, showy, white;
lateral sepals reflexed;
petals oblong, margins entire;
lip porrect, spatulate to lance-spatulate, without basal thickening, 10–15 × 2.5–4 mm, margins slightly lacerate to subentire;
spur slenderly cylindric, scarcely clavate, 35–60 mm;
rostellum lobes directed forward, spreading, angular;
rostellum lobes slenderly curving forward, slightly spreading, angular-elongate, long;
pollinaria with stalks curved forward;
pollinia remaining enclosed in anther sacs;
viscidia orbiculate;
ovary slender, ca.16–22 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.
Platanthera integrilabia
Platanthera nivea
Of conservation concern.
The description of Platanthera integrilabia is based on a limited sample and is likely too restrictive.
Flowers of this species are nocturnally sweet-scented. The vegetative habit is distinctive, with leaves restricted to the base of the stem and a relatively few-flowered inflorescence borne atop a tall bracted scape. In addition to the normal tuberoid, roots often enlarge distally to form bud-bearing tuberoids at a marked distance from the parent stem, giving rise to diffuse clonal colonies.
(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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