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

Platanthera ephemerantha R. M. Bateman
white-lip rein orchid
Orchidaceae (Orchid family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Jamie Fenneman  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #10749)

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Distribution of Platanthera ephemerantha
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Species Information

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General:
Perennial herb from tubers, 1-2.5 cm long, with a few fibrous roots; stems 20-55 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal 2 or 3 (4), linear to mostly oblanceolate, 10-18 cm long, 2-3.5 cm wide, dull to glossy green below, glossier above, withering before or during flowering; stem leaves bractlike, mostly 3 or 4 (2-10).
Flowers:
Inflorescence terminal, spikelike, 7-30 cm long, usually densely-flowered, the flowers small, white, sometimes with green, faintly and unpleasantly scented; sepals 2-3.5 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, 1-veined, the upper sepal more or less pointed forward, white with a green midvein or green with white margins, the lower ones white with a faint green midvein, usually greenish early in flowering; petals 2-4 mm long, white with a green midvein, more or less pointed forward, the tips overlapping or nearly touching; lip 2-3 mm long, white, sometimes green at tip, narrowly triangular, bent back toward spur; spur 2-3.5 mm long, pointed downward; column shorter than lip.
Fruits:
Capsules, ascending to erect, 5-9 mm long; seeds cinnamon brown.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Dry forests and forest margins in the lowland to montane zones; rare in coastal BC; N to AK and S to CA.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Piperia candida Rand. Morgan & Ackerman

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References