Distribution

Description

Flowering	summer.
Height	15-65 cm.
Inflorescence	a spike.
Leaves	two, basal, unequal in size; blade orbiculate to elliptic to irregular; fleshy.
Flowers	green to white, resupinate; all margins entire.
Spur	terete to club-shaped; reduced at apex.
Rostellum	lobes oriented forward.
Viscidia	circular to subcircular.

Habitat

Wet to seasonally wet woodlands.  Hilltops, treed fens.

Conservation and Wetland Status

Threatened and Endangered Status

State	Status
Connecticut	Special Concern
Indiana	Extirpated
New Jersey	Endangered
New York	Exploitably Vulnerable
Tennessee	Threatened

Wetland Indicator Status  

Facultative Wetland, Facultative Upland

Ethnobotany

• Ground up leaves used top treat abrashions;  sores associated with tuberculosis.
• Ground up leaves used to treat blisters.

 

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Synonyms

Orchis orbiculata Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept. 2: 588. 1814; Habenaria orbiculata (Pursh) Torrey;

H. orbiculata var. lehorsii Fernald; H. orbiculata var. menziesii (Lindley) Fernald;

Platanthera orbiculata var. lehorsii (Fernald) Catling

Chromosome number

2n = 42

Author and publication information for name

Platanthera orbiculata (Pursh) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 286. 1835.

Vernacular name

Lesser Roundleaved 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.

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

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