Platanthera lacera
Platanthera chapmanii
green fringe bog-orchid, green fringe orchid
Chapman's fringe orchid
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.
1–3, spreading to ascending, abruptly or gradually reduced to bracts distally;
blade linear-lanceolate or lanceolate to lance-oblong, 15–26 × 1–3 cm.
lax to dense.
rather dense.
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.
resupinate, showy, orange to pale dull yellow;
dorsal sepal entire or emarginate;
lateral sepals reflexed;
petals linear to obovate, apically fringed to merely lacerate-dentate;
lip porrect, ovate to ovate-orbiculate, without basal thickening, 5–10 × 4–9 mm, margins deeply filiform-fringed;
spur slenderly cylindric, 8–17 mm;
rostellum lobes directed downward, distally retrorse, digitate;
pollinaria with stalks recurved;
pollinia remaining enclosed in anther sacs;
viscidia orbiculate to suborbiculate;
ovary slender, 10–19 mm.
= 42.
Platanthera lacera
Platanthera chapmanii
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.)
as hybrid
The retrorse rostellum lobes of Platanthera chapmanii usually separate small-flowered plants of this species from P. cristata, which normally presents the viscidia forward on only slightly curved lobes. Additionally, the nearly circular mouth of the spur of P. chapmanii is in contrast to the triangular opening of P. cristata. Until recently P. chapmanii was confused with the hybrid of P. ciliaris and P. cristata, P. ×channellii Folsom, which is readily recognized by its angular rostellum lobes that are directed forward and outward, presenting the viscidia forward, as in its parents (J. P. Folsom 1984).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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