Platanthera unalascensis
Alaska rein orchid
Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Alaska rein orchid
Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
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.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Habitat and 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.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Piperia unalascensis (Spreng.) Rydb.