Platanthera clavellata
(Michaux) Luer var. clavellata
[Habenaria clavellata] (Michaux) Sprengel
[Habenariatridentata] (Muhlenberg) Hooker
Club Spur Orchid
Green Woodland Orchis
Location |
Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec,
Ontario. Relatively common in the northeastern and Atlantic states, as far
south as Georgia.
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Specific Habitat |
Forms large colonies in acid conditions, commonly in Black Spruce-Tamarack
bogs in Bruce Peninsula area, where it is rare because of the predominately
limy, basic soils of this area. In the Ottawa District, moist, sandy,
old fields and openings; or the borders of peatlands, swamps, and lakes.
It is rare and local east of the Canadian Shield Region.
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Flowering Season |
July to August.
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Description |
Height to 60 cm., stem erect, leafy, tall, with conspicuous vertical veining.
Leaves: 2-3, elliptic to lanceolate, green, keeled, becoming bracts above.
Raceme loosely to densely flowered, 20-30 flowers; all parts yellowish-green
to pale greenish white, the older flowers in each cluster are twisted
so that they appear to be lying on their side. Sepals and petals similar,
dorsal sepal and petals form a hood over the lip; lip nearly rectangular,
tip shallowly 3-lobed. Spur thickest near its tip. Sometimes mildly and
sweetly fragrant.
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Comments |
A fairly common wildflower of bogs and other wet situations. Also an orchid
that tends to colonize disturbed areas such as roadside ditches and sandscrapes.
Unique because of the "askewness" of its flowers. Also capable of self-pollination.
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References |
Orchids of Ontario
Orchids of the Norteast
The Canadian Field-Naturalist Vol III Ð 1
The Native Orchids of the United States and Canada excluding Florida
The Orchids of Bruce & Grey
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© Royal Botanical Gardens, Dr. Donald Gunn Image Collection.