Prairie White Fringed Orchis

(Platanthera leucophaea)

Prairie White Fringed Orchis (Platanthera leucophaea [Nutt.] Lindl.)

Identification: Flowers white with long rear spur. Lower petal elongate and heavily fringed. Lateral petals also fringed. Upper petal concave, broad, helmetlike. Flowers arranged in a tight, terminal raceme. Middle of stem with small, narrow, leaves. Bottom of stem with leaves larger, but also narrow. Plant 1 to 3 feet in height.

Distribution: Found primarily in the Great Lakes region and southward in the Mississippi River Valley.

Habitat: Priarie White Fringed Orchis, as the name suggests, is most commonly found in wet prairies, but also lives in sphagnum bogs.

Flowering period: June to July.

Similar Species: Prairie White Fringed Orchis is similar to White Fringed Orchis. However, the lateral petals of White Fringed Orchis are not fringed.