Platanthera dilatata / white bog orchid

Adjectives: fen, fragrant, highly visible, native, nutrient poor soils, wet meadows

Synonym: Habenaria dilatata
Also known as: rein orchid, habenaria, boreal orchid, leafy white orchis, bog candle, tall white bog orchid, scent bottle
See also: Platanthera huronensis / green bog orchid; Platanthera unalascensis / slender-spire orchid

---

P. dilatata is primarily a wetland species, found in marshes, fens, bogs, and along riverbanks and roadsides, and is our most common orchid. Now that you’ve seen one, it is likely you will see many more. The bog orchid has 3-6 principle leaves, i.e. the big ones at the base that you can immediately see. They are narrow and long, with smooth edges and more or less rounded pointy tips. The ones at the base are larger than those farther up the stem.

The flowers of the white bog orchid are conspicuous on their tall raceme. Like all other members of the genus, they are characterized by a long, sac-like spur. The sac stores nectar and forces pollinators to really commit – and pick up or deliver pollen – in order to get at it.

When the flowers develops in the buds, the most conspicuous petal, the lip, is the uppermost of three, but the flower is strongly twisted at maturity (resupinate) so that the lip appears to be the lowest of the petals. In this species, the lip is broader at the base than at the tip. There is also a “hood” made up of one sepal and two petals covering the path to the nectar sac. Between the flowers are short, pointed leaflets that you will probably only see if you go looking for them, i.e. they are not the most charismatic characteristic.

The most notable characteristic, however, is the strong spicy scent, like cinnamon or cloves. Like Goodyera, P. dilatata produces nectar, encouraging return visits by whoever comes by.