Distribution

Description

Flowering	spring to fall.
Height	20-125 cm.
Inflorescence	a spike.
Leaves	few to many; blade lanceolate to ovate to oblong.
Flowers	green to yellow, resupinate; all margins entire.
Spur	terete to club shaped; reduced at apex.
Rostellum	lobes oriented forward.
Viscidia	circular to subcircular to oblong.

 

Habitat

Seepy areas, fens, wet meadows, swampy areas.

Conservation and Wetland Status

Threatened and Endangered Status

State	Status
Arizona	Salvage restricted
Washington	Sensitive

Wetland Indicator Status  

Facultative Wetland

Ethnobotany

Plant used as food.

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Synonyms

Habenaria sparsiflora S. Watson, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 12: 276. 1877;

H. sparsiflora var. laxiflora (Rydberg) Correll; Limnorchis ensifolia Rydberg;

L. laxiflora Rydberg; L. sparsiflora (S. Watson) Rydberg;

Platanthera sparsiflora var. ensifolia (Rydberg) Luer

Author and publication information for name

Platanthera sparsiflora (S. Watson) Schltr, Bull. Herb. Boissier. 7: 538. 1899.

Vernacular name

Sparse Flowered Bog 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.

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