User:Nellieella/Platanthera sparsiflora

Description
Platanthera sparsiflora is a species of orchid known by the common name sparse-flowered bog orchid. (Platanthera Sparsiflora in Flora of North America @ Efloras.Org, n.d.) The scientific name Platanthera sparsiflora comes from a Latin root meaning, “scattered flowers.” This species of orchid got their name for their laxly flowered spikes and strong aroma (Coleman, 2002).

Flowers
When mature, Platanthera sparsiflora plants can have more then 100 flowers, which appear with a greensish/yellowish color. Their lip color also appears with a pale green to yellowish green color with central thickening at a column. Platanthera sparsiflora are usually found with their lateral sepals reflexed and partially twisted, making the flowers appear narrow. The blooming season for these orchids is typically between the months of May to August with a peak bloom in July (Coleman, 2002).

Distribution and Habitat
Platanthera sparsiflora are highly variable and can grows at elevations between 1980 to 2590 meters in the Southwest regions of the United States and can grow up to 3350 meters in California. They are found in areas that are constantly wet such as marshes and stream banks, and limited to areas with a permanent source of water (Coleman, 2002).

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Tracheophytes

Clade: Angiosperm

Clade: Monocot

Order: Asparagales

Family: Orchidaceae

Family: Orchidoideae

Genus: Platanthera

Species: Platanthera sparsiflora

Conservation Status
Due to their wide distribution, Platanthera sparsiflora are considered safe at the time of this reading (Coleman, 2002).