User:Taryn57/Platanthera brevifolia

Platanthera brevifolia, the shortflowered bog orchid or short-leaf bog orchid, is a terrestrial orchid of North America.

Description
Platanthera brevifolia plants are 16–60 cm tall. Their leaves are close to and sheathing the stem. Flowering time is from July to September, with up to 40 green to yellowish-green flowers. The flowers have a lip which can be 10 mm long and a long nectar spur of 9–20 mm [4][5].

Distribution and habitat
Platanthera brevifolia is found throughout Mexico and in the counties of Catron, Grant, Lincoln, Otero, and Sierra in the state of New Mexico in the United States. It is found at an elevation of 1980–2700 m. The habitat is dry to moist gravel, loam and limestone near small drainages or streams. They prefer open coniferous forest or pine-oak woodland on flat to slightly-sloped areas, and appear as scattered individuals or small groups. [4][5]

Taxonomy
Platanthera brevifolia was first described by Edward Lee Greene in 1881 (as Habenaria brevifolia). Early authors placed it in Habenaria, but more recently it has been considered a member of Platanthera. It has also previously been considered a variety of Platanthera sparsiflora, but is currently regarded as its own species based on habitat, structure, and flower morphology.

Mycorrhizae
Other orchids in the Platanthera genus, Platanthera bifolia and Platanthera chlorantha, were found to have dominant mycorrhizal fungi identified as members of the Ceratobasidiaceae[3]. Non-dominant fungi were identified as members of the Tulasnellaceae and Sebacinales[3]. Ceratorhiza fungi has also been found to encourage the development of another orchid in this genus, Platanthera praeclara[6].