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

Platanthera unalascensis
Alaska rein orchid
Orchidaceae (Orchid family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Adolf Ceska  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #5652)

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Distribution of Platanthera unalascensis
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Species Information

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General:
Perennial herb from tubers, 1-4 cm long, with a few fibrous roots; stems 15-90 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal 2 to 5, oblanceolate, 7-15 cm long, 0.5-4 cm wide; stem leaves bractlike.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a terminal, spikelike raceme, 5-40 cm long, usually open, sometimes densely-flowered above, the flowers small, green, faintly-scented, the scent pleasant; sepals 2-5.5 mm long, lanceolate, the upper sepal ascending or pointed forward; petals 2-5.5 mm long, lanceolate, somewhat erect to pointed forward; lip 2-5 mm long, oblong to triangular, usually pointed downward, the tip upcurved; spur 1.5-5 mm long, pointed back or downward.
Fruits:
Capsules, ellipsoid, ascending to erect.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Dry to moist coniferous forests, grassy slopes, meadows, thickets and streambanks in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; frequent throughout BC south of 56 degrees N, especially east of the Coast-Cascade Mountains; N to AK, E to NF and S to MI, SD, NM, UT, NV and CA; Baja CA.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Piperia unalascensis (Spreng.) Rydb.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References