Platanthera dilatata, known as tall white bog orchid, bog candle, or boreal bog orchid is a species of orchid, a flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native to North America. It was first formally described in 1813 by Frederick Traugott Pursh as Orchis dilatata.
It is sometimes called fragrant white bog orchid or scentbottle, for the smell of its flowers, described as intensely spicy or clove-like.
In the Midwest and northeastern United States and Canada, it grows in cold, calcareous fens, cedar and tamarack swamps, meadows, and marshes, typically in sunny spots.
Description Bog candle is an erect, perennial flower growing up to tall. The showy, white flowers are clustered on long spikes. The petals are ovate to linear-lance shaped with smooth edges, not divided or fringed like some other Platanthera species. The lateral sepals spread or reflex.
The leaves are linear to lanceolate or oblanceolate, and reduce in size toward the top of the plant. The leave size ranges from long to across.
Taxonomy Platanthera dilatata was scientifically described by Frederick Traugott Pursh in 1813 and named Orchis dilatata. It was moved to the genus Platanthera in 1833 by Lewis Caleb Beck crediting John Lindley. Together with its genus it is classified in the family Orchidaceae.
Three varieties are accepted: Image Name Distribution Platanthera dilatata var. albiflora Colorado to Alaska and KamchatkaPlatanthera dilatata var. dilatata Colorado to Alaska, Great Lakes and northeastern US and Canada, absent in most of the Great PlainsPlatanthera dilatata var. leucostachys western US and Canada, from Baja California to Alaska
Platanthera dilatata has synonyms of the species or one of its three varieties.
Table of Synonyms Name Year Rank Synonym of: Notes Habenaria borealis var. albiflora 1828 variety var. albiflora ≡ hom. Habenaria dilatata 1823 species P. dilatata ≡ hom. Habenaria dilatata var. albiflora 1943 variety var. albiflora ≡ hom. Habenaria dilatata var. leucostachys 1910 variety var. leucostachys ≡ hom. Habenaria flagellans 1880 species var. leucostachys = het. Habenaria graminifolia 1915 species var. leucostachys = het. Habenaria leptoceratitis 1915 species var. leucostachys = het. Habenaria leucostachys 1880 species var. leucostachys ≡ hom. Habenaria leucostachys var. robusta 1915 variety var. leucostachys = het. Habenaria leucostachys var. virida 1921 variety var. leucostachys = het. Habenaria pedicellata 1877 species var. leucostachys = het. Limnorchis dilatata 1901 species P. dilatata ≡ hom. Limnorchis dilatata subsp. albiflora 1968 subspecies var. albiflora ≡ hom. Limnorchis dilatata var. albiflora 2007 variety var. albiflora ≡ hom. Limnorchis dilatata var. leucostachys 2008 variety var. leucostachys ≡ hom. Limnorchis dilatata var. linearifolia 1901 variety var. dilatata = het. Limnorchis foliosa 1901 species var. dilatata = het. Limnorchis fragrans 1901 species var. dilatata = het. Limnorchis graminifolia 1901 species var. leucostachys = het. Limnorchis leptoceratitis 1901 species var. dilatata = het. Limnorchis leucostachys 1900 species var. leucostachys ≡ hom. Limnorchis leucostachys subsp. robusta 1915 subspecies var. leucostachys = het. Limnorchis leucostachys var. robusta 1901 variety var. leucostachys = het. Orchis agastachys 1835 species var. dilatata = het. Orchis dilatata 1813 species P. dilatata ≡ hom. Piperia dilatata 2000 species P. dilatata ≡ hom. Piperia dilatata var. albiflora 2000 variety var. albiflora ≡ hom. Piperia dilatata var. leucostachys 2000 variety var. leucostachys ≡ hom. Platanthera cylindrica 1826 species var. dilatata = het. Platanthera dilatata var. angustifolia 1839 variety var. dilatata = het. Platanthera graminea 1835 species var. albiflora = het., nom. illeg. Platanthera hyperborea var. dilatata 1851 variety P. dilatata ≡ hom. Platanthera hyperborea var. graminea 1851 variety var. albiflora = het. Platanthera hyperborea var. leucostachys 1901 variety var. leucostachys ≡ hom. Platanthera leucostachys 1835 species var. leucostachys ≡ hom. Platanthera lindleyi 1841 species var. albiflora = het. Tulotis albiflora 1833 species var. dilatata = het. Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym
Uses British Columbian Native Americans used the sweet-smelling flowers in washing themselves.
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