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• Platanthera blephariglottis

Platanthera blephariglottis — white-fringed bog-orchid

Facts

White-fringed bog-orchid mainly grows in open peat (Sphagnum) bogs. A large study in Quebec found that the presence and abundance of white-fringed bog orchid was a strong indicator that the Sphagnum bog was less disturbed or influenced by human activity. This species could therefore serve as an indicator for rapid assessment of Sphagnum bog integrity.

Habitat

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

Characteristics

• Flowers

  Flower petal color

  white

  Flower symmetry

  there is only one way to evenly divide the flower (the flower is bilaterally symmetrical)

  Flowering date

  • August
  • July
  • June

  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

  50–150 mm

  Inflorescence type

  the inflorescence is a spike (a long unbranched stem with flowers along it that lack stalks)

  Inflorescence width

  40–50 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 has spurs on it
  • the labellum is fringed
  • the labellum is simple in form

  Lower petal length

  6–13 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

  white

  Nectar spur

  the flower has at least one nectar spur on it

  Nectar spur length

  15–25 mm

  Number of stamens

  1

  Orientation of side petals

  the lateral petals are angled steeply upwards

  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

  5–11 mm

  Sepals fused only to sepals

  the sepals are separate from one another

  Shape of viscidium

  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

  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

  50–350 mm

  Leaf blade length to width ratio

  5–7

  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 linear (very narrow with more or less parallel sides)
  • the leaf blade is ovate (widest below the middle and broadly tapering at both ends)

  Leaf blade width

  10–50 mm

  Leaves during flowering

  there are leaves on the plant when it is flowering

  Number of leaves on stem

  • three
  • two

• Place

  Habitat

  • terrestrial
  • wetlands

  New England state

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

  Specific habitat

  • bogs
  • edges of wetlands
  • fens
  • man-made or disturbed habitats
  • meadows or fields

Wetland status

Occurs only in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: OBL)

New England distribution and conservation status

From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae