white bog orchid

Platanthera dilatata

The white bog orchid is a beautiful flower that grows in wet, marshy areas. Its delicate white petals look like tiny stars shining in the grass, making it a special sight in nature.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The white bog orchid is an elegant plant with an erect stem bearing narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Its small, pure white, fragrant flowers are arranged in a dense, upright spike, often featuring a distinctive long, slender spur at the base of each bloom.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAsparagalesFamilyOrchidaceaeGenusPlatanthera

white bog orchid

Interesting facts

Its tiny seeds are like dust, carried by the wind for miles to find new damp homes!

Some varieties of this orchid actually have green flowers, not always pure white!

The scientific name 'Platanthera' means 'broad anther,' referring to its wide pollen structures.

White bog orchids can live for many years, silently growing in their boggy homes.

Special abilities

White bog orchid releases a sweet, strong fragrance at night to attract specific moths for pollination in the dark.

White bog orchid thrives in waterlogged, acidic soils where few other plants can grow, thanks to specialized root adaptations.

White bog orchid has a long, slender spur on its flowers that perfectly holds nectar for long-tongued pollinators.

Measurements & details

Height: 15-100 cm
Flower Size: 1-2 cm
Bloom Season: Summer
Edible: Yes
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

White-lined Sphinx Moth

Hyles lineata

visits flowers for nectar, carrying pollen between them.

pollinates

Western Bumblebee

Bombus occidentalis

collects nectar and pollen, aiding in reproduction.

symbiotic with

Orchid Mycorrhizal Fungus

Tulasnella calospora

exchanges nutrients with the orchid, crucial for its growth.

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Ornamental

Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.