Platanthera ciliaris (L.) Lindl.

Orange Fringed Bog Orchid

Facts About

Accepted Synonyms: Blephariglottis ciliaris

Platanthera ciliaris, commonly called Orange Fringed Bog Orchid, is widely distributed throughout eastern and central Canada and the United States, from Florida to Ontario, and around the Gulf Coast to Texas. It is a large, showy plant bearing up to 115 bright orange or dark yellow flowers with a heavily fringed labellum. A long, cylindrical spur extends out behind the flower. It produces 2-4 large, spreading leaves lower down on its stem, gradually reducing to bracts in the upper portion of the stem. It can be found in moist meadows, marshes, bogs, and woodlands, as well as along roadsides. This orchid is known to form a natural hybrid with P. blephariglottis, named P. × bicolor, and with P. cristata, named P. × channellii.

Platanthera ciliaris is considered globally secure, but is rare throughout much of the western edge of its range.

Pollination

This orchid is pollinated by butterflies including Danaus plexippus, Papilio glaucus, Papilio polyxenes, Papilio troilus, Satyrium liparops and moths such as Hyles lineata, as they search for nectar. When the insect sticks its long proboscis into the flower to collect nectar, the pollinia attaches to the compound eyes and is carried to the next flower as it searches for nectar.

Ecosystem Type

Bogs, disturbed habitats, marshes, meadows, prairie, savanna

Characteristics

Habitat:
terrestrial
Leaf arrangement:
alternate
Number of leaves on stem:
  • two
  • three
  • four
Form of the labellum:
the labellum is not pouch-like
Labellum outline:
the labellum is fringed
Main color of labellum:
  • orange
  • yellow
Nectar spur:
present
Inflorescence type:
the inflorescence is a raceme
Labellum characteristics:
  • the labellum has a spur
  • the labellum is fringed
Labellum length:
8–19 mm
Sepal length:
5–8 mm
Plant height:
24–100 cm
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Native to North America

Yes

North American Conservation Status & Distribution

Conservation Status

Select a location to view conservation status:

Conservation and Wetland Status
Global Rank Secure
US Status N/A
Canadian Status N/A

North America Distribution

Adapted from USDA data