Minnesota Wildflowers


or try: advanced plant search
Share |

Platanthera dilatata (Tall White Bog Orchid)

Plant Info
Also known as: Scentbottle, Leafy White Orchis
Genus:Platanthera
Family:Orchidaceae (Orchid)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:part shade, sun; wet meadows, coniferous swamps, peat bogs
Bloom season:July - August
Plant height:14 to 30 inches
USDA PLANTS database:Minnesota county distribution map

Pick an image for a larger view. Most image enlargements are 50-100KB, though some may be larger. See the glossary for icon descriptions.

Detailed Information

Flower: irregular raceme

[photo of flowers] Slender, loose to densely packed spike-like raceme of 10 to 60 irregular, white, ¼ to ½ inch flowers. 2 lateral petals and an upper sepal form a hood at the top, 2 broad petal-like sepals flare laterally. The lower lip is narrower than the side sepals and initially curves up, touching the tip of the hood, eventually flowing downward, with a green curved tapering spur below. Very fragrant, with a spicy scent reminiscent of cinnamon or cloves.

Leaves and stem: alternate simple

[photo of leaves] 3 to 6 principal leaves, smooth, lanceolate to elliptical, 3 to 8 inches long, ¼ to ¾ inch wide, becoming smaller as they ascend the stem, alternately attached and sheathe the smooth stem. A very tall slender plant.

Notes:

While not as rare as some of Minnesota's other orchid species, it is a determined search to track it down. Other than the white flowers its very similar in appearance to Platanthera huronensis and P. aquilonis (both green flowered and also known as P. hyperborea, Northern Green Orchid), which may share its habitat. Natural hybrids can occur, designated as P. X media and can be more common. Also note that this species sometimes goes by Habenaria dilatata (as in Newcomb's and Peterson's field guides), but genus Habenaria is now widely considered restricted to the tropical species and Platanthera the temperate zone species.

Where to buy native seed and plants

Help support this site by buying seeds & plants from these vendors. Tell them we sent you!

  • Prairie Restorations - Bringing people together with the land
  • Shop for native seeds and plants at PrairieMoon.com!
  • Out Back Nursery and Landscaping - Where Ecology and Horticulture Unite
  • Shooting Star Native Seeds - Native Prairie Grass and Wildflower Seeds

Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk, taken in a cedar bog in northern Aitken county

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Post a comment

Note: All comments are moderated before posting to keep the riff-raff out. An email address is required, but will not be posted—it will only be used for information exchange between the 2 of us (if needed) and will never be given to a 3rd party without your express permission.

For info on subjects other than plant identification (gardening, invasive species control, edible plants, etc.), please check the links and invasive species pages for additional resources.



(required)




Note: Comments or information about plants outside of Minnesota may not be posted because I’d like to keep the focus of this web site on Minnesota. Thanks for your understanding.