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Yellow Fringed Orchid, Orange Fringed Orchid - Platanthera ciliaris


Family: Orchidaceae - Orchid family Genus Common Name: Fringed Orchid Native Status: NativeMonocot Perennial Herb
Platanthera ciliaris - Yellow Fringed Orchid, Orange Fringed Orchid. The Yellow Fringed Orchid is more frequently a bright orange than yellow. It shares the feature of being either orange or yellow with similar species Platanthera cristata - the Yellow Crested Orchid - which has a much shorter spur than P. ciliaris. The spur of Platanthera ciliaris is longer than the flower, frequently extending past the ovary/pedicel combination. It blooms in mid-summer in a variety of locations. These photographs were taken along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Waynesville, NC.

Found in:
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WV

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Platanthera ciliaris

Distribution of Platanthera ciliaris in the United States and Canada:
USDA Map temporarily unavailable.
Blue=Native; Grey=Introduced

Map from USDA Plants Database:
USDA, NRCS. 2017. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 16 Jan 2025). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

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Site: Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood County, NC Date: 2011-August-01Photographer: Cindy Williamson
Nikon D40
The Yellow Fringed Orchid inflorescence is a showy raceme of 50 or more orange or yellow blossoms.
Platanthera ciliaris
Site: Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood County, NC Date: 2011-August-01Photographer: Cindy Williamson
Nikon D40
The individual yellow or orange flowers have a fringed lower lip. The fringes are longer than the width of the lip.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Platanthera ciliaris
Site: Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood County, NC Date: 2011-August-01Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Platanthera ciliaris grows to be up to about 3 feet tall. The leaves are up to 6 inches long, alternating along the stem. They sheath the stem, and are much reduced in size in the upper plant.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Platanthera ciliaris
References used for identification and information:
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Platanthera ciliaris initially published on USWildflowers.com 2011-09-05; Updated 2017-03-02

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