Distribution

Description

Flowering	(spring) summer (fall).
Height	20-90 cm.
Inflorescence	a spike.
Leaves	two to four; blade linear to oblong.
Flowers	orange to yellow, resupinate; lip margin fringed; lateral sepal margins entire; dorsal sepal margin dentate to fringed.
Spur	terete.
Rostellum	lobes oriented downward.
Viscidia	circular to subcircular.

Described hybrids

Hybrid	Second Parent
P. x canbyi (Ames) Luer	P.blephariglottis
P. x channellii Folsom	P.cristata

 

Habitat

Seepy areas, wet woods and meadows.  Bogs to prairies.

Conservation and Wetland Status

Threatened and Endangered Status

State	Status
Florida	Threatened
Kentucky	Threatened
Maryland	Threatened
Massachusetts	Endangered
New York	Endangered
Pennsylvania	Extirpated

Wetland Indicator Status  

Facultative Wetland +, Obilgate Wetland

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Synonyms

Orchis cristata Michaux, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 156. 1803; Habenaria cristata (Michaux) R. Brown;

Platanthera pallida P. M. Brown

Chromosome number

2n = 42

Author and publication information for name

Platanthera cristata (Michx.) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 291. 1835.

Vernacular name

Crested Yellow Orchid

Link to Interactive Platanthera key

http://utc.usu.edu/keys/Platanthera/Platanthera.html

References

C. J. Sheviak  (2003). Flora of North America, Magnoliophyta: Liliidae: Liliales and Orchidales. Vol. 26:496-571. Oxford University Press.

U.S. Department of Agriculture. PLANTS Database. http://plants.usda.gov/index.html. Accessed primarily in July 2006.