Denseflower rein orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Denseflower rein orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Platanthera
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| Species: |
elongata
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The Platanthera elongata is a type of orchid that grows in western North America. It's also known by fun names like denseflower rein orchid, chaparral orchid, and wood rein-orchid. This special plant is found in places like British Columbia, Montana, and southern California. It loves to grow in mountain forests and scrubby areas.
The Denseflower Rein Orchid
This orchid can grow quite tall, reaching up to about 1.3 meters (which is over 4 feet) high! It grows from a bulb-like base, which helps it store food and water. The stem gets thinner as it goes up towards the top.
What Does It Look Like?
At the bottom of the plant, the leaves can be quite long, up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) long and 6.5 centimeters (about 2.5 inches) wide. Higher up on the stem, the leaves are much smaller.
The top part of the stem has many small, green flowers. They are often packed closely together, forming a spike-like shape. Sometimes, these flowers have a faint, sweet smell, especially in the evenings. Each flower has a small tube-like part called a spur, which can be up to 1.5 centimeters long.
Where Does It Grow?
The denseflower rein orchid is native to a wide area in western North America. You can find it in the cool, green forests of British Columbia in Canada. It also grows in the mountains of Montana in the United States. Further south, it thrives in many parts of California. This includes places like the Cascade Range, the Klamath Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada (United States). It also likes the chaparral and woodlands of California, including the California Coast Ranges and the Santa Monica Mountains.
