Platanthera pallida
| Pale fringed orchid | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Genus: | Platanthera |
| Species: | P. pallida
|
| Binomial name | |
| Platanthera pallida P. M. Brown
| |
Platanthera pallida, commonly known as pale fringed orchid,[1] is a rare orchid of North America with the only known occurrences on Long Island.
Description[edit]
Platanthera pallida plants are terrestrial orchids that look similar to Platanthera cristata - in fact before recognition as a species they were suspected to be variations or hybrids.[2] They are 29-65 cm tall and have 2-3 lower leaves which are up to 25 cm long, as well as several reduced upper leaves. There are 24-80 flowers arranged in a raceme at the top of the stem, with a pale orange-yellow to pale cream color and a short nectar spur. Bloom time is in summer.
Distribution and habitat[edit]
Platanthera pallida is endemic to Long Island in New York with only three known populations. It grows in dry areas between sand dunes.[2]
Taxonomy[edit]
Platanthera pallida was first described as a new species by P. M. Brown in 1992, when he examined plant populations that had been suspected to be variations or hybrids of Platanthera cristata.[2] The USDA's plants database considers them identical to Platanthera × canbyi (the hybrid of Platanthera cristata with Platanthera blephariglottis).[3] Future studies are likely to re-examine the current status as a separate species.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ "Platanthera pallida". Go Orchids. North American Orchid Conservation Center. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ a b c Brown, Paul Martin (1992). "Platanthera pallida (Orchidaceae), a New Species of Fringed Orchis from Long Island, New York, U.S.A." Novon. 2 (4): 308–311. doi:10.2307/3391484. JSTOR 3391484.
- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Platanthera pallida". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ Pace, Matthew C. (2020). "The Orchidaceae of northeastern North America". Memoirs of the Torrey Botanical Society. 29. Torrey Botanical Society: 156–189.
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