User:Chernes132/Platanthera limosa

Article Draft: Platanthera Limosa (Coenoemersa limosa)
Platanthera limosa (Coenoemersa limosa), commonly known as Thurber's bog orchid, is a terrestrial orchid of Guatemala, Mexico and the United States.

Description
Coenoemersa limosa plants are 30–165 centimetres (12–65 in) tall. They have several leaves, up to 28 cm long at the base but gradually getting shorter with the upper leaves having a bract-like appearance. They have 5 to 9 leaves that are long an narrow dispersed along the stem. Leaf shape is helpful separating P. limosa from Platanthera brevifolia, which has an overlapping range.

Flowering time is from June to August, with some plants getting up to 200 green to yellowish green flowers in a dense to lax spike. All petals including the lip have an entire margin. There is a thin and long (8–25 mm) nectar spur. When under less favorable conditions, like a drier habitat, they will not begin to bloom until two weeks after the normal season begins or may not develop flowers.

The genus of Platanthera has seeds and embryos that are brown in color and posses smooth testa cell walls.

Distribution and Habitat
Platanthera limosa (Coenoemersa limosa) grows in Arizona and New Mexico in the US, as well as in Mexico and Guatemala. In New Mexico, they are found only in Catron county. They occur in Pima, Cochise, and Santa Cruz counties in Arizona.

Its habitat is open, marshy forests at higher elevation (1800–2500 m, up to 4000 m in Central America). In North America they are found growing between 1920 and 2790 meters on hillsides with consistent water source. It can often be found in seeps or growing at stream banks. They are commonly found moist habitats with mixed forests in light to bright shade.

Taxonomy
Platanthera limos ( Coenoemersa limosa) was first described by John Lindley in 1840 as Platanthera limosa and as Habenaria thurberi (hence the common name) by Asa Gray in 1868. It was moved to the new genus Coenoemersa in 2010.

The synonyms for P. limosa are Hibenaria thurberi, Habenaria limosa, Limnorchis limosa, and Limnnorchis thurberi. In 1980, Habenaria was split into the genera Platanthera and Piperia, due to key morphological differences between their seeds. This species is currently referred to as Platanthera limosa.

Ecology
Platanthera limosa flowers have long spurs, which indicate that they have more specific pollinators, however there has been no research conducted to determine what pollinates this species.

They are commonly found in thick grasses and are often found near corn lilies (Veratrum californicum). Uncommonly, they are found in drier habitats at drainage bottoms with shrubs or trees as cover. The genus Platanthera typically prefer fungi from the Ceratobasidiaceae and Tulasnellaceae families. Specific fungal association for P. limosa have not yet been identified.