Platanthera hyperborea (L.) Lindl. 1835

Photo courtesy of Patricia Harding

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Common Name or Meaning The Far North Platanthera

Flower Size

Found in Nunavit, Greenland and Iceland as a miniature to giant sized, cold growing terrestrial at elevations of 400 to 2800 meters with a short stem carrying 4 to 8 cauline, near erect, lanceolate leavesa with the uppermost 1 to 5 leaves are small and bract-like that blooms in the late spring and summer on a terminal, erect, from 1" to 3' 4" [2.5 cm to 100 cm] long, several to many flowered inflorescence with sweetly scented flowers

In Iceland this is a small compact plant from 1" to 12" tall, but in the US the plants can reach 3'4" [100 cm] tall.

Synonyms Gymnadenia hyperborea (L.) Link 1829; Habenaria borealis Cham. 1828; Habenaria huronensis (Nutt.) Spreng. 1826; Habenaria media (Rydb.) G.G.Niles 1904; Habenaria hyperborea (L.) R. Br. 1813; Limnorchis borealis (Cham.) Rydb. 1901; Limnorchis brachypetala Britton & Rydb. 1901; Limnorchis huronensis (Nutt.) Rydb. 1901; Limnorchis hyperborea (L.) Rydb. 1900; Limnorchis media Rydb. 1901; Orchis acuta Banks ex Pursh 1813; Orchis huronensis Nutt. 1818; *Orchis hyperborea L. 1767; Orchis hyperborea var. huronensis (Nutt.) Alph.Wood 1853; Orchis koenigii Gunnerus 1772; Platanthera borealis (Cham.) Rchb.f. 1851; Platanthera convallariifolia var. dilatatoides Hultén 1943; Platanthera dilatata var. chlorantha Hultén 1943; Platanthera huronensis (Nutt.) Lindl. 1835; ; Platanthera hyperborea f. alba M.H.S.Light 1989; Platanthera hyperborea var. huronensis (Nutt.) Luer 1975; Platanthera hyperborea var. major Lange 1880; Platanthera hyperborea var. minor Lange 1880; Platanthera koenigii (Gunnerus) Lindl. 1835; Platanthera makinoi Y.Yabe 1903; Platanthera media (Rydb.) Luer 1975

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East Delforge 2005

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