Whiteflower rein orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whiteflower rein orchid |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Platanthera
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| Species: |
ephemerantha
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The Platanthera ephemerantha is a special type of orchid. People often call it the whiteflower rein orchid. It also has other names like slender white piperia or white-flowered piperia. This beautiful plant grows naturally in western North America.
You can find it from Alaska all the way down to the San Francisco Bay Area. It likes to live in cool, damp places. These include coniferous forests and mountain areas. It usually grows within 150 kilometers (about 93 miles) of the coast.
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About the Whiteflower Rein Orchid
This orchid stands tall, reaching about half a meter (around 20 inches) high. It grows from a round, bulb-like base called a caudex. This caudex helps the plant store food and water.
What the Orchid Looks Like
The leaves at the bottom of the plant are quite long. They can be up to 18 centimeters (about 7 inches) long and 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) wide. Leaves higher up on the stem are much smaller.
Its Unique Flowers
The top part of the stem has many small flowers. They grow in a shape like a spike. There can be up to 100 flowers on one stem! Most of these tiny flowers are arranged along one side of the stem.
The flowers smell sweet, like honey. They are usually whiter than other Platanthera orchids. Sometimes, they might have a hint of green. You might see green lines or green edges on the white petals.
Orchid Populations in the Wild
It can be tricky to know how many of these orchids are in the wild. This is because most groups of them are small. Also, they might not produce flowers every year. This makes them harder to spot and count.
