Platanthera lacera

Platanthera lacera is an orchid in the genus Platanthera, native throughout Eastern United States and Canada. It occurs in a variety of habitats ranging from “mesic and dry-mesic sand prairie, wet sedge meadow, calcareous fen, sphagnum bog, acid seep spring, dry field, mesic flatwoods, and mesic upland forests.”[1] Common names include ragged fringed orchid and green fringed orchid.

Green fringed-orchid
Platanthera lacera at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Genus: Platanthera
Species:
P. lacera
Binomial name
Platanthera lacera
(Michx.) G.Don
Synonyms
  • Habenaria lacera (Michx.) R.Br.
  • Orchis lacera Michx.

Identification

It is a perennial growing 20 to 77 centimeters (8 to 30+13 in) tall. 2 to 7 lanceolate to narrow elliptic leaves should be present. The inflorescence is a terminal racemic structure, 4 to 25 centimeters (1+12 to 9+34 in) long with 15 to 60 whitish-green flowers.[1]

Pollination

The flowers are fragrant at night and are pollinated by crepuscular moths.

References

  1. Homoya, M.A. (1993). "Platanthera lacera". Orchids of Indiana. Indianapolis, IN; Indiana Academy of Science, p. 169.


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