Platanthera elegans Lindl.
Elegant Piperia, Many Flowered Piperia, Wood Rein Orchid
Facts About
Accepted synonyms: Habenaria elegans, Habenaria greenei, Piperia elegans, Piperia maritima, Piperia multiflora
Platanthera elegans, commonly called the Wood Rein Orchid, is distributed along the west coast of North America from California to British Columbia and east to Montana. It produces basal leaves and a tightly flowered inflorescence of up to 100 pale green to white colored flowers. It can be found in open coastal cliffs and bluffs as well as scrubland and forests; preferring dry open sites.
Platanthera elegans is apparently secure globally.
Pollination
This orchid is pollinated by Plusia nichollae, Thallophaga taylorata and species of Autographa. Pollinaria attached to the moth’s proboscis as it searched for nectar.
Ecosystem Type
Cliffs balds or ledges, forests
Characteristics
- Habitat:
- terrestrial
- Leaf arrangement:
- basal
- Number of leaves on stem:
-
- two
- three
- four
- five
- Form of the labellum:
- the labellum is not pouch-like
- Labellum outline:
- the labellum is simple
- Main color of labellum:
-
- green to brown
- white
- Nectar spur:
- present
- Inflorescence type:
- the inflorescence is a raceme
- Labellum characteristics:
-
- the labellum has a spur
- the labellum is simple
- Labellum length:
- 5–6 mm
- Sepal length:
- 4–5 mm
- Plant height:
- 12–100 cm
Native to North America
Yes
North American Conservation Status & Distribution
Conservation Status
| Conservation and Wetland Status | |
|---|---|
| Global Rank | Apparently Secure |
| US Status | N/A |
| Canadian Status | Secure |