Platanthera quadricalcarata T.P.Lin 2021
Photos/type drawing by T P Lin
Common Name The 4 Spurred Platanthera
Flower Size .184" [4.6 mm]
Found in Taiwan at elevations around 2800 meters as a miniture to small sized, cold growing terrestrial with a horizontal, stoloniferous rootstock giving rise to an erect, 5.6 to 7.2" [13 to 18 cm] tall ovverall stem carrying 1 to 2, usually basal one larger, green whitish beneath, elliptic, obtuse, decurrent, upper surface along veins slightly elevated leaves that blooms in the summer on an erect, 4 to 7.2" [10 to 18 cm] long, peduncle green, 2.8 to 3.6" [7 to 9 cm] long, ridged, provided with 2 ovate-lanceolate, sheath bracts, rachis laxly many flowered inflorescence with lanceolate, shorter than the ovary floral bracts and carrying greenish flowers.
"This is the smallest species of Platanthera in Taiwan with a flower only 4.6 mm in diameter, even much smaller than that of P. brevicalcarata. Platanthera quadricalcarata has a trilobed lip which can also be found in P. devolii, P. longicalcarata, P. nantousylvatica, and P. sonoharae. Most of them, however, have a narrow, linear lip but it is a rhombus in P. quadricalcarata. The square to slightly rectangular and compressed spur probably is the most unique feature of P. quadricalcarata, as they are usually cylindrical and long in other Platanthera species. So far I can find no similar species of Platanthera reported from Japan or China." T P Lin 2021
Synonyms
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
* Taiwania 66: T P Lin 2021 photo/drawing fide fide
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