Small Woodland Orchis

(Platanthera clavellata)

 

   

 

 

Color Photograph: NRCS Plants Database, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Small Woodland Orchis (Platanthera clavellata [Michx.] Luer)

Identification: Flowers white with long rear spur. Lower petal rectangular, unfringed, with a broad, lobed apex. Lateral petals unfringed. Upper petal concave, helmetlike. Flowers arranged in a tight, terminal raceme. Middle of stem nearly naked, with only a couple of small, narrow, leaves. Bottom of stem with leaves larger, but also narrow. Plant 6 to 18 inches in height.

Distribution: Throughout eastern North America.

Habitat: Small Woodland Orchis is found in bogs, and along the shores of lakes and rivers.

Flowering period: July to August.

Similar Species: The rectangular lower petal with a square, minutely lobed apex should identify this species.

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