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Platanthera flava — northern tubercled bog-orchid

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New England distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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North America distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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Facts

Northern tubercled bog-orchid is widespread but rare throughout New England. It is usually found in wet fields, meadows, swamps and river shores on sandy soils.

Habitat

Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), floodplain (river or stream floodplains), forest edges, forests, fresh tidal marshes or flats, grassland, meadows and fields, riverine (in rivers or streams), shrublands or thickets, swamps, wetland margins (edges of wetlands), woodlands

Characteristics

Habitat
  • terrestrial
  • wetlands
New England state
  • Connecticut
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
Leaf arrangement
alternate: there is one leaf per node along the stem
Number of leaves on stem
  • four
  • one
  • three
  • two
Form of lower petal
the labellum does not have a pouch-like shape
Lower petal outline
the labellum is lobed but not fringed
Main color of lower petal
  • green to brown
  • yellow
Nectar spur
the flower has at least one nectar spur on it
Inflorescence type
the inflorescence is a spike (a long unbranched stem with flowers along it that lack stalks)
Lower petal characteristics
  • the labellum has spurs on it
  • the labellum is lobed
  • the labellum is simple in form
Lower petal length
2–6 mm
Show all characteristics

  • Flowers

    Flower petal color
    • green
    • yellow
    Flower symmetry
    there is only one way to evenly divide the flower (the flower is bilaterally symmetrical)
    Flowering date
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    Flowers per inflorescence
    13–50
    Form of lower petal
    the labellum does not have a pouch-like shape
    Hairs on inflorescence axis
    the main stem of the inflorescence is hairless
    Inflorescence length
    50–200 mm
    Inflorescence type
    the inflorescence is a spike (a long unbranched stem with flowers along it that lack stalks)
    Labellum position
    the labellum is in the lower position on the flower
    Length of flower stalk
    0 mm
    Length of narrowed base of lower petal
    0 mm
    Lobes at base of lower petal
    0 mm
    Lower petal characteristics
    • the labellum has spurs on it
    • the labellum is lobed
    • the labellum is simple in form
    Lower petal length
    2–6 mm
    Lower petal outline
    the labellum is lobed but not fringed
    Lower petal strongly red-veined
    no
    Main color of lower petal
    • green to brown
    • yellow
    Nectar spur
    the flower has at least one nectar spur on it
    Nectar spur length
    4–11 mm
    Number of stamens
    1
    Orientation of side petals
    the lateral petals are angled steeply upwards
    Self-pollinating flowers
    there are no cleistogamous flowers on this plant
    Sepals fused only to sepals
    the sepals are separate from one another
    Shape of viscidium
    • the viscidium is another shape than the choices given
    • the viscidium is roughly circular
    Spots on lower petal
    no
    Spur opening membrane
    there is no membrane over the spur opening

  • Fruits or seeds

    Seed capsule orientation
    the capsule points upwards or is angled outwards

  • Growth form

    Plant green or not
    the plant is chlorophyllous (it has green parts)
    Roots
    the rhizomes do not resemble coral
    Underground organs
    • the plant has one or more swollen storage organs underground, such as bulbs, tubers or corms
    • there are only slender roots on the plant

  • Leaves

    Bract relative length
    the bract is longer than the associated flower
    Features of leaves
    the leaf does not have any of the mentioned special features
    Leaf arrangement
    alternate: there is one leaf per node along the stem
    Leaf blade edges
    the edges of the leaf blade have no teeth
    Leaf blade length
    50–350 mm
    Leaf blade shape
    • the leaf blade is elliptic (widest near the middle and tapering at both ends)
    • the leaf blade is lanceolate (lance-shaped; widest below the middle and tapering at both ends)
    • the leaf blade is oblong (rectangular but with rounded ends)
    Leaf blade tip
    • the tip of the leaf blade is acute (sharply pointed)
    • the tip of the leaf blade is obtuse (bluntly pointed)
    Leaf blade width
    10–70 mm
    Leaves during flowering
    there are leaves on the plant when it is flowering
    Number of leaves on stem
    • four
    • one
    • three
    • two

  • Place

    Habitat
    • terrestrial
    • wetlands
    New England state
    • Connecticut
    • Maine
    • Massachusetts
    • New Hampshire
    • Rhode Island
    • Vermont
    Specific habitat
    • edges of forests
    • edges of wetlands
    • forests
    • fresh tidal marshes or flats
    • grasslands
    • in rivers or streams
    • man-made or disturbed habitats
    • meadows or fields
    • river or stream floodplains
    • shrublands or thickets
    • swamps
    • woodlands

Wetland status

Usually occurs in wetlands, but occasionally in non-wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FACW)

New England distribution and conservation status

Distribution

Connecticut
present
Maine
present
Massachusetts
present
New Hampshire
present
Rhode Island
present
Vermont
present

Conservation status

Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.

Connecticut
unrankable (S-rank: SU)
Maine
rare (S-rank: S2)

var. herbiola

Connecticut
uncommon (S-rank: S3), special concern (code: SC)
Maine
rare (S-rank: S2), special concern (code: SC)
Massachusetts
rare (S-rank: S2), threatened (code: T)
New Hampshire
extremely rare (S-rank: S1), endangered (code: E)
Rhode Island
extremely rare (S-rank: S1), state threatened (code: ST)
Vermont
rare (S-rank: S2), threatened (code: T)

Native to North America?

Yes

Sometimes confused with

Platanthera clavellata:
labellum without a protuberance, with 3 teeth or very shallow lobes at the apex, and stem with 1 principal leaf (vs. P. flava, with the labellum with a prominent, erect protuberance, usually with 2 basal teeth, often crenate or irregularly toothed over the margin, and stem with mostly 2 or 3 principal leaves).

Synonyms

  • Habenaria flava (L.) R. Br.
  • Perularia flava (L.) Farw.

Family

Orchidaceae

Genus

Platanthera

Notes on subspecies and varieties in New England

Our variety is Platanthera flava (L.) Lindl. var. herbiola (R. Br. in Ait. & Ait f. ) Luer.

Help

From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae

7.  Platanthera flava (L.) Lindl. var. herbiola (R. Br. in Ait. & Ait f. ) Luer N

northern tubercled bog-orchid. Habenaria flava (L.) R. Br.; Perularia flava (L.) Farw. • CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT. River shores, usually associated with circumneutral seeps, sandy alluvium, or shrub thickets, rarely in tidal marshes, also in wet fields, meadows, and swamps.