Distribution

Description

Flowering	late spring to early fall.
Height	24-100 cm.
Inflorescence	spikelike raceme.
Leaves	two to four; blade lanceolate to elliptic, bracts reduced distally.
Flowers	orange to yellow-orange, resupinate; lateral sepal margins entire; dorsal sepal margin entire to dentate, or fringed on lateral portion of dorsal sepal;  lip one-lobed with margin fringed.
Spur	terete.
Rostellum	lobes oriented forward.
Viscidia	circular to subcircular.

 

Described hybrids

Hybrid	Second parent
P. x channellii Folsom	P.cristata

Habitat

Wet meadows, pine barrens, woodlands, seepy areas, bogs. 

Sandy to peaty soils.

Conservation and Wetland Status

Threatened and Endangered Status

State	Status
Connecticut	Threatened
Florida	Threatened
Illinois	Endangered
Maryland	Endangered
Michigan	Threatened
New York	Endangered
Ohio	Threatened
Pennsylvania	Threatened
Rhode Island	Endangered

Wetland Indicator Status

Facultative Wetland

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Ethnobotany

• Infusion consumed for "flux" - an excessive discharge of bodily fluids.
• Used to treat snake bites.
• Used on fishhooks to encourage fish strikes.

Synonyms

Orchis ciliaris Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 939. 1753; Habenaria ciliaris (Linnaeus) R. Brown

 

Pollinators

Papilio troilus

Author and publication information for name

Platanthera ciliaris (L.) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 292. 1835.

Vernacular name

Yellow Fringed Orchid

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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.

Native American Ethnobotany, University of Michigan-Dearborn at  http://herb.umd.umich.edu./ Accessed primarily in 2006.

Smith, G. R. and G. E.Snow. 1976. Pollination of Plantanthera ciliaris and P.blephariglottis, Bot.Gaz. 137: 133-140.

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