Platanthera pallida, commonly known as pale fringed orchid,[1] is a rare orchid of North America with the only known occurrences on Long Island.
| 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
| |
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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