Platanthera shriveri, Shriver's purple fringed orchid,[1] is a rare orchid endemic to the United States. It is considered critically imperiled.[2]

Description

Platanthera shriveri plants look very similar to Platanthera grandiflora and a hybrid origin with Platanthera lacera is suspected. To distinguish Platanthera shriveri from Platanthera grandiflora small morphological details and a different bloom time (July and August, about 3 weeks later) have to be observed.[1]

Distribution and habitat

The only known populations are in Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania (historic record only), Virginia and West Virginia.[2] They grow in woodlands and along stream banks.

Taxonomy

Platanthera shriveri was described as a new species by P. M. Brown in 2008.

There is ongoing research whether the plants described as Platanthera shriveri are a separate botanical species or can be considered within the morphological and bloom time ranges of Platanthera grandiflora.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Platanthera shriveri". North American Orchid Conservation Center (NAOOC), Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Platanthera shriveri". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  3. ^ Pace, Matthew C. (2020). "The Orchidaceae of northeastern North America". Memoirs of the Torrey Botanical Society. 29. Torrey Botanical Society: 156–189.

Media related to Platanthera shriveri at Wikimedia Commons