E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Platanthera chorisiana (Cham.) Rchb.
Chamisso's rein orchid (Chimissso's orchid; small bog orchid)
Orchidaceae (Orchid family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Hans Roemer  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #25714)

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Distribution of Platanthera chorisiana
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Species Information

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General:
Perennial herb from spindle-shaped stem-bases, with a few fibrous roots; stems 5-20 cm tall, with 1 or 2 bracts to 2 cm long.
Leaves:
Usually 2 or 3 nearly basal leaves nearly circular or egg-shaped to lanceolate, 2.5-6 cm long, about 1/2 as wide, sheathing.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a terminal, 5- to 18-flowered, crowded spike, the flowers small, greenish, unstalked, the lower flowers shorter than floral bracts; sepals 2 mm long, oblong, 1-veined, the upper sepal slightly hooded; petals strongly 3-veined, slightly shorter and wider than sepals; lip 1.5-2 mm long, nearly as wide, concavely curved, the margins slightly lobed, erect; spur barely 1 mm long, slightly curved, bulbous; column plump, about 1 mm long.
Fruits:
Capsules, ascending to erect.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Sphagnum bogs, bog forests, and swamps in the lowland and montane zones; infrequent in coastal BC; N to AK and S to WA; Japan.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Platanthera chorisiana

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Minimum

Average

Maximum

Elevation (metres) 60 298 780
Slope Gradient (%) 0 22 65
Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]
5 93 330
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
0 4 7
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
B
Number of field plots
 species was recorded in:
20
Modal BEC Zone Class
CWH
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in: CWH(16), MH(2), SBS(2)

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is subalpine boreal & cool mesothermal.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Habenaria chorisiana Cham.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References