Platanthera unalascensis (Spreng.) Kurtz 1894

Photo by Carl Luer

Inflorescence

Photo by Patricia Harding

toLATEand EARLY

Common Name The Unalaska Platanthera [An island in the Aleutians] - The Alaskan Piperia, The Slender Spire Orchid

Flower Size

Found in the western US and Canada in open mixed evergreen forests or under Manzanita and in sequoia groves at elevations of 100 to 2600 meters as a medium to large sized, cold growing terrestrial of forests, open meadowlands, rocky hillsides and tundra with apair of tuberoids giving rise to 2 to 4, basal, fugaceiuso, oblanceolate leaves that wither by blooming occuring in the late spring and early summer on an erect, to 28" [70 cm] long, distantly spaced below, denser above, racemose, numerous flowered inflorescence with ovate, as long as the ovary floral bracts and carrying yellowish to greenish flowers that open in succession and have a nocturnal musky scent.

Synonyms Habenaria foetida (Geyer ex Hook.) S.Watson 1871; Habenaria schischmareffiana Cham. 1828; Habenaria unalascensis (Spreng.) S. Watson 1877; Habenaria unalaschensis (Spreng.) S.Watson 1877; Herminium unalascense [Spreng.]Rchb. f. 1851; Monorchis unalaschcensis (Spreng.) O.Schwarz 1949; Piperia unalascensis (Spreng.) Rydb. 1901; Platanthera foetida Geyer ex Hook. 1855; Platanthera schischmareffiana (Cham.) Lindl. 1835; *Spiranthes unalascensis Spreng. 1826;

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Studies in the Family Orchidaceae Vol 4 Ames 1910 as Habenaria unalascensis; Native Orchids of North America Correll 1950 as Habenaria unalascensis drawing fide; Native Orchids of North America Correll 1950 as Habenaria unalascensis var elata drawing fide; Native Orchids of North America Correll 1950 as Habenaria unalascensis var maritima drawing fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 29 No 5 1960 as Habenaria unalascens drawing fide; The Native Orchids of the United States and Canada Luer 1975 as Piperia unalascensis drawing/photos fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 74 No 4 2005 photo as Piperia unaleascensis; AOS Bulletin Vol 76 No 9 2007 as Piperia unalascensisphoto fide; Orchid Digest Vol 74 #2 2010 as Piperia unalescensis photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 86 # 3 2017 photo fide; Orchid Digest Vol 83 #2 2019 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 88 # 6 2019 photo fide;

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