Platanthera obtusata : Northern Bog Orchid

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
Angiospermae (enclosed seed)

Class: Monocoteldonae (one seed-leaf)

Family: Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)

Genera: Platanthera (Bog Orchids)

Species: obtusata (Lat. obtusus=blunt, referring to the blunt tip of the basal leaf)

Synonym(s): Habeneria obtusata

English Name(s):

Northern Bog Orchid, Small / One-leaf / Blunt-leaf / Bog Orchid

First Nation Names:

Structure:

• Stems 6-20cm tall, leafless.

Leaves:

• Obovate ot oblanceolate in shape.
• Single (rarely 2), basal, ascending, 3-15cm wide, 8-45mm wide.

Reproductive Parts:

• Flowers perfect (bisexual). Zygomorphic (biliteral symmetry).
• Petals 3 of which the side two are alike but are different from the lower one which is lip like.
• Sepals 3.
• Lower Petal (lip) entire or notched at tip, spurred (with hollow elongated apendage).
• Sepals separate, upper sepal erect or incurved and forming a hood.
• Side petals about the same length as sepals.
• Lower Petal (lip) 1-nerved, linear-lanceolate, with a somewhat dialated base. 6-10mm long, bent downwards.
• Sepals, 3-7mm long, 3-nerved (3-veins).
• Side petals, 1-nerved, 4-5.5mm long.
• Small, greenish-white, in a few to many flowered, open raceme.
• Spur 3-8mm long, equal to or shorter than lip, tapering from a broad base.

Seed:

• Fruit a three chambered capsule containing innumerable minute seeds.
• Capsule ascending or spreading oblong to ovoid in shape.

Not to Be Confused With:

Physiology:

• Herbacious.
• Pollen transferred to insects by a mechanism that springs forward when the insect enters and useing an almost instantly cementing glue the pollinia is stuck to the insects head. One can see this in action by useing a small twig or blade of grass.

Life Cycle:

• Perennial.

Seasonal Cycle:

• Deciduous.
• Flowers finished blooming by mid-July.

Animal Uses:

• Mosquitoes or occasionaly small moths are the main pollinators for this species. They are drawn to the nectar which is in the spur (hollow tube).
• When the mosquito enters the flower the pollinia (see physiology) spring forward and cement themselves to the head of the insect by a sticky substance.

Habitat:

• Mossy coniferous forests, and wet places, in thickets, bogs, swamps, muskegs, and along streams.

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Traditional Gwich'in:

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Traditional Other:

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