Checklist » Orchidaceae » Platanthera huronensis
Last updated 3/22/2021 by David Giblin.
Platanthera huronensis (Nutt.) Lindl.[FNA26, HC2]
northern green bog-orchid

Publication: Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 288. 1835.

Origin: Native

selected vouchers: WTU

Notes: FNA26: "Northwestern plants commonly treated as Platanthera hyperborea var. viridiflora (Chamisso) Kitamura (note Kitamura\'s priority over Luer) are P. huronensis; Chamisso\'s name furthermore is synonymous with P. stricta. Aleutian and coastal Alaskan plants are often short, stout, and broad-leaved, and they have incorrectly been referred to 9. P. convallariifolia.

Platanthera huronensis as here delimited does not auto-pollinate in the manner of P. aquilonis. Occasional plants and populations that may be referable to P. huronensis, however, exhibit the movement of pollinia typical of P. aquilonis. These plants might reflect infraspecific variation within an allotetraploid species, result from hybridization, or constitute a distinct taxon. The relationship of some of these plants to P. hyperborea needs study. Platanthera huronensis is typically intensely fragrant with the sweet, pungent scent of some related species. Platanthera huronensis is known to hybridize with P. dilatata; it may hybridize with other species as well. Although hybrids of P. dilatata and P. aquilonis may occur, the name traditionally used for them, P. ×media (Rydberg) Luer is a synonym of P. huronensis. See notes under 10. P. aquilonis and 8. P. hyperborea."

References:

» Weber, W.A. 1953. Balsamorhiza terebinthacea and other hybrid balsam-roots. Madroño 12: 47-49.
Synonyms & Misapplied Names:
Habenaria media (Rydb.) Niles
Limnorchis media Rydb.
Orchis huronensis Nutt.
Platanthera hyperborea (L.) Lindl., misapplied[FNA26, JPM]
Platanthera ×media (Rydb.) Luer