Distribution

Description

Flowering	late spring to early autmn.
Height	35-85 cm.
Inflorescence	a spike.
Leaves	few to many; blade lanceolate to elliptic; bracts reduced distally;.
Flowers	white, resupinate; lip divided into three primary lobes, central lobe usually divided into two secondary lobes; lip margins fringed; lateral sepal margins entire; dorsal sepal margin erose to dentate to rarely entire.
Spur	terete to club shaped.
Rostellum	lobes oriented forwards.
Viscidia	circular to subcircular.

 

Habitat

Tall grass prairies.

Conservation and Wetland Status

Threatened and Endangered Status

State or country	Status
United States	Threatened
Iowa	Threatened
Minnesota	Endangered
Missouri	Endangered
Nebraska	Threatened

 

 

Synonyms

Habenaria leucophaea (Nuttall) A. Gray var. praeclara (Sheviak & Bowles) Cronquist

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Author and publication information for name

Platanthera praeclara Sheviak & M. L. Bowles, Rhodora. 88: 278, figs. 1a–d, 2–4. 1986.

Vernacular name

Great Plains White Fringed 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.