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Platanthera psycodes — lesser purple fringed 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

Lesser purple fringed bog-orchid is a spectacular orchid, pollinated by smaller butterflies, skippers and moths, the pollinia becoming attached to the insect's mouth parts. The specific name (psycodes) comes from a Greek word meaning 'butterfly-like', referring to the shape of the flowers.

Habitat

Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), fens, forests, meadows and fields, swamps, wetland margins (edges of wetlands)

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
  • five
  • four
  • three
  • two
Form of lower petal
the labellum does not have a pouch-like shape
Lower petal outline
the labellum is fringed (it may or may not be lobed)
Main color of lower petal
  • blue to purple
  • pink to red
  • white
Nectar spur
the flower has at least one nectar spur on it
Inflorescence type
the inflorescence is a raceme (a long unbranched stem with stalked flowers growing along it)
Lower petal characteristics
  • the labellum is fringed
  • the labellum is lobed
Lower petal length
5–13 mm
Sepal length
5–7 mm
Show all characteristics

  • Flowers

    Flower petal color
    • pink
    • purple
    • white
    Flower symmetry
    there is only one way to evenly divide the flower (the flower is bilaterally symmetrical)
    Flowering date
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • September
    Flowers per inflorescence
    7–100
    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 raceme (a long unbranched stem with stalked flowers growing along it)
    Inflorescence width
    30–40 mm
    Labellum position
    the labellum is in the lower position on the flower
    Lobes at base of lower petal
    0 mm
    Lower petal characteristics
    • the labellum is fringed
    • the labellum is lobed
    Lower petal length
    5–13 mm
    Lower petal outline
    the labellum is fringed (it may or may not be lobed)
    Lower petal strongly red-veined
    no
    Main color of lower petal
    • blue to purple
    • pink to red
    • white
    Nectar spur
    the flower has at least one nectar spur on it
    Nectar spur length
    12–22 mm
    Number of stamens
    1
    Orientation of side petals
    • the lateral petals are angled steeply upwards
    • the lateral petals are vertically oriented or nearly so
    Pollen sacs
    the pollinia remain intact and do not fragment into smaller parts
    Self-pollinating flowers
    there are no cleistogamous flowers on this plant
    Sepal length
    5–7 mm
    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
    Spur opening shape
    the opening of the spur is roughly rectangular or oblong

  • 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 shorter 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
    50–220 mm
    Leaf blade length to width ratio
    3.1–3.3
    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)
    • the leaf blade is obovate (egg-shaped, but with the widest point above the middle of the leaf blade)
    Leaf blade tip
    the tip of the leaf blade is acute (sharply pointed)
    Leaf blade width
    15–70 mm
    Leaves during flowering
    there are leaves on the plant when it is flowering
    Number of bracts on stem
    2–8
    Number of leaves on stem
    • five
    • four
    • three
    • two

  • Place

    Habitat
    • terrestrial
    • wetlands
    New England state
    • Connecticut
    • Maine
    • Massachusetts
    • New Hampshire
    • Rhode Island
    • Vermont
    Specific habitat
    • edges of wetlands
    • fens
    • forests
    • man-made or disturbed habitats
    • meadows or fields
    • swamps

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.

Maine
unranked (S-rank: SNR)
Massachusetts
fairly widespread (S-rank: S4)
Rhode Island
rare (S-rank: S2), concern (code: C)

Native to North America?

Yes

Sometimes confused with

Gymnadenia conopsea:
labellum 5-13 mm long, with fringed lobes, and leaf blades entire (vs. G. conopsea, with labellum 3.5–5 mm long, with entire lobes, and leaf blades denticulate).
Platanthera grandiflora:
opening to spur circular and labellum 10-25 mm long (vs. P. psychodes, with the opening to spur horizontally rectangular or oblong and labellum 5-13 mm long).

Synonyms

  • Blephariglotis psycodes (L.) Rydb.
  • Habenaria psycodes (L.) Spreng.

Family

Orchidaceae

Genus

Platanthera

Help

From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae

16.  Platanthera psycodes (L.) Lindl. N

lesser purple fringed bog-orchid. Blephariglottis psycodes (L.) Rydb.; Habenaria psycodes 
 (L.) Spreng. • CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT. Swamp edges, stream banks, ditches, trail edges, fields, mesic forests.

11×16. Platanthera lacera × Platanthera psycodes → Platanthera ×‌andrewsii (M. White) Luer is a rare bog-orchid hybrid in New England known from CT, MA, ME, NH, VT. On initial examination, it shows more dissected labellum segments than P. psycodes, but the perianth is usually only tinged with red-purple to purple. The viscidium length/width ratio is a useful character for critical determinations. The hybrid has a ratio of 1.3–3, P. lacera has a ratio of 2.7–4.6, and 
 P. psycodes has a ratio of 1–1.5. A smilar hybrid, P. ×‌keenanii (8 ×11), has larger anther sacs (2.5–4.2 mm long vs. 1.4–2.3 mm long inP. ×‌andrewsii).