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Page created August 25, 2007
Page last updated March 14, 2022

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Navigate this Page - "Platanthera: Rein Orchids - 3. Ragged Rein Orchid Group":

[The Ragged Rein Orchid group has long tormented orchid botanists because its species are so variable and so prone to hybridization. Newfoundland harbours three recognized species: P. grandiflora, P. lacera, and P. psycodes. However, it also harbours an additional "entity" of uncertain status: P. lacera var. terrae-novae. Catling and Catling (1994) suggested that var. terrae-novae is actually a "hybrid swarm" of P. xandrewsii and introgressed P. lacera. Nonetheless, var. terrae-novae seems to be a rather stable entity that is quite common in Newfoundland, even in the eastern regions of the Island where what is locally referred to as the "Mainland form" of P. lacera does not appear to occur.

Further confusing the issue is the matter of widespread general hybridization. In Newfoundland, particularly on its southwest coast, where, unlike in most other regions, the flowering seasons of ALL of the Ragged Rein Orchids present seem to overlap to a certain extent, hybridization, including subsequent back-crossing, appears to occur in all directions.

The arrangement constructed below is an "in-progress" attempt to tease apart the various elements of this vexing puzzle. At this point it should be viewed ONLY as such. Moreover, the present treatment is entirely visually-based. Over time, specimens from each site will be correlated with the measurable character attributes employed by Catlin and Catling (1994) and Catling (1997), and some adjustments will probably be made. ALL COMMENTS WELCOME.]



RECOGNIZED SPECIES, WITH FORMS AND VARIANTS:

Platanthera grandiflora
      Platanthera grandiflora forma albiflora
      Platanthera grandiflora with apparent Platanthera lacera "var. terrae-novae" influence
Platanthera lacera "Mainland form"
      Platanthera lacera "Mainland form" with unknown influences
      Platanthera lacera "bracted Mainland form" with unknown influences
Platanthera psycodes
      Platanthera psycodes forma albiflora
      Platanthera psycodes "two-toned form"


POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL STABLE ENTITY:

Platanthera lacera "var. terrae-novae" ["Newfoundland form"]


PRIMARY HYBRIDS:

Platanthera xandrewsii [Platanthera lacera x Platanthera psycodes]
Platanthera xenigma [Platanthera grandiflora x Platanthera psycodes]
Platanthera grandiflora x Platanthera lacera "Mainland form" [= Platanthera xkeenanii nomen invalidum]


UN-NAMED PRIMARY HYBRIDS INVOLVING P. LACERA "VAR. TERRAE-NOVAE":

Platanthera lacera "var. terrae-novae" x Platanthera grandiflora
Platanthera lacera "var. terrae-novae" x Platanthera psycodes [Newfoundland variant of P. xandrewsii]
Platanthera lacera "var. terrae-novae" x Platanthera lacera ["Mainland form"]

RECOGNIZED SPECIES, WITH FORMS AND VARIANTS:


Platanthera grandiflora (Bigelow) Lindley  -  Large Purple Fringed Orchid, Large Butterfly Orchid - [NF - RARE]

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 22, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower, Closeup
Flower, Top View
Flower
Flower
Mixed Platanthera, in Habitat
Mixed Platanthera, in Habitat
Mixed Platanthera, in Habitat

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower, Closeup
Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flowers
Flowers
Inflorescence in Bud
Inflorescence
Flowering Stem
Whole Plant

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 30, 2006. [Digital - John Maunder]

Inflorescence, Top View
Inflorescence
Inflorescence

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Platanthera grandiflora (Bigelow) Lindley forma albiflora (Rand & Redfield) Catling  -  Large Purple Fringed Orchid, Large Butterfly Orchid - [NF - RARE]

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 22, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flowers, including Side View
Flower, Top View
Opening Inflorescence
Whole Plant

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Platanthera cf. grandiflora (Bigelow) Lindley  -  Large Purple Fringed Orchid, Large Butterfly Orchid - [NF - RARE]

Grand Bay West, Newfoundland. Vegetated dunes. July 4, 2006. [Digital - John Maunder]

Inflorescence, Opening
Inflorescence, Opening
Inflorescence, Opening

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Platanthera grandiflora (Bigelow) Lindley [with apparent P. lacera var. terrae-novae influence]  -  Large Purple Fringed Orchid Hybrid [NF]

Grand Falls, Newfoundland. Beothuk Park. Edge of mixed woods. July 30, 2006. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower
Flower
Inflorescence

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 30, 2006. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower
Flowers
Flowers
Flowers, Top-View
Inflorescence
Inflorescence
Whole Plant

Stephenville Crossing, Newfoundland. Open shore heath at edge of former rail-bed. August 1, 2006. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flowers
Flowers

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Platanthera lacera (Michaux) G. Don ["Mainland form"] (See: "Newfoundland form", later, below)  -  Ragged Fringed Orchid, Green Fringed Orchid - [NF]

Grand Bay West, Newfoundland. Vegetated dunes. July 4, 2006. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flowers
Flowers
Flowering Stem
Inflorescence, in Bud
Whole Plant, in Bud

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Platanthera lacera (Michaux) G. Don ["Mainland form"] with unknown influences  -  White Fringed Orchid Hybrid [NF]

Grand Bay West, Newfoundland. Vegetated dunes. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower, 3/4 View
Flower, Side-View
Flower, Top-View
Inflorescences
Inflorescences
Whole Plants

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Platanthera lacera (Michaux) G. Don ["bracted Mainland form"] with unknown influences; bracts reminiscent of P. grandiflora; possibly a sterile hybrid  -  White Fringed Orchid Hybrid [NF]

Grand Bay West, Newfoundland. Vegetated dunes. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flowers
Flowers
Flowers
Flowers
Flower, Side-Below View
Flowers, Side-Below View
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View, with Spur
Flower, Side View, with Spur
Flower, Side-Top View
Flower, Side-Top View
Flower, Side-Top View
Flower, Top View
Flower, Top View
Inflorescence
Inflorescence
Leaves
Whole Plant

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Platanthera psycodes (Linnaeus) Lindley  -  Small Purple Fringed Orchid, Small Butterfly Orchid - [NF]

Woodville, Newfoundland. Wet fen area near old fields. July 11, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flowers
Whole Plant

Between Noel's Pond and Cold Brook Road Junction, near Stephenville, Newfoundland. Roadside ditch. Wet. July 20, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower
Flowers
Inflorescence

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 22, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Inflorescence
Whole Plant
Mixed Platanthera, in Habitat
Mixed Platanthera, in Habitat
Mixed Platanthera, in Habitat

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 22, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Inflorescence
Inflorescence

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 22, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower

Just N of Lomond River, Newfoundland. Along highway. Bog/fen. July 23, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flowers
Flowers
Inflorescence
Inflorescence
Whole Plant

Exploits River floodplain, near Red Cliff, west of Grand Falls, Newfoundland. Open shrubbery. Gravelly. Damp. July 24, 2002. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flowers
Flowers
Flowers
Flowers
Whole Plant in Habitat

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 31, 2006. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flowers
Plants in Habitat

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Platanthera psycodes (Linnaeus) Lindley [two-toned form]  -  Small Purple Fringed Orchid, Small Butterfly Orchid - [NF]

Woodville, Newfoundland. Wet fen area near old fields. July 11, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flowers
Flowers
Flowers
Flowers
Whole Plant

Between Cap St. George and Mainland, Newfoundland. Limestone heath. High ground. July 19, 1999. [Transparencies - René Charest ]

Inflorescence

Peter's River, 6 km N of Bishop's Falls on Botwood Highway, Newfoundland. River shore. July 24, 2001. [Transparency - Shelley Pardy]

Flowering Stem

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Platanthera cf. psycodes (Linnaeus) Lindley  -  Small Purple Fringed Orchid, Small Butterfly Orchid - [NF]

Grand Bay West, Newfoundland. Vegetated dunes behind beach. July 4, 2006. [Digital - John Maunder]

Inflorescence, in Bud
Whole plant, in Bud

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 11, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Inflorescence, Opening
Inflorescence, Opening
Inflorescence, Opening
Inflorescence, Opening
Inflorescence, in Bud
Inflorescence, in Bud
Inflorescence, in Bud
Whole Plant, in Bud
Whole Plant, in Bud

Portugal Cove South, Newfoundland. Wet grassy area behind beach. Sandy substrate. September 19, 2006. [Digital - John Maunder]

Capsules
Capsules
Capsules
Inflorescence, in Fruit
Inflorescence, in Fruit
Whole Plant

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POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL STABLE ENTITY:


Platanthera lacera (Michaux) G. Don var. terrae-novae Fern. = "Newfoundland form".  -  Ragged Fringed Orchid, Green Fringed Orchid - [NF]

Cheeseman Provincial Park, Newfoundland. Fen/bog. July 3, 2006. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flowers
Flowers
Flowers

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 11, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower, Side View
Flowers
Flowers
Inflorescence
Buds
Whole Plant, in Bud

Woodville, Newfoundland. Wet fen area near old fields. July 11, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower

Junction of Trans Canada Highway and Burgeo Highway, Newfoundland. Roadside shrubbery. Gravelly. Damp. July 16, 2002. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flowers
Flowers
Flowers
Flowers
Whole Plant

Between Anniopsquotch Mountains and Burgeo Highway, Newfoundland. Fen/bog. July 19, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flowers
Inflorescence

Cheeseman Provincial Park, Newfoundland. Fen/bog. July 22, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Inflorescence
Inflorescence

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 22, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Ultra Closeup
Flower, Ultra Closeup
Flower, Ultra Closeup
Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Flowers
Flowers
Flowers
Inflorescences
Whole Plants

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower, Side View
Inflorescence
Whole Plant

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Flowers, Side View
Inflorescence

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower, Side View

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flowers
Inflorescence

Little Soldier's Pond, along Trans Canada Highway, south of St. John's, Newfoundland. Fen/bog. August 3, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flowers
Flowers
Flowers
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Flower, 3/4 Below
Flower, Bottom View
Flower, Top View
Flower, Top View
Flower, Top View
Inflorescence
Whole Plant
Whole Plant
Whole Plant

Little Soldier's Pond, along Trans Canada Highway, south of St. John's, Newfoundland. Fen/bog. August 3, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Whole Plant

Seal Cove, Conception Bay, Newfoundland. Fen/bog. August 4, 2004. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flowers
Flower, Side View
Inflorescence

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PRIMARY HYBRIDS:


Platanthera xenigma P. M. Brown [Platanthera grandiflora x Platanthera psycodes]  -  Hybrid Purple Fringed Orchid - [NF]

Grand Bay West, Newfoundland. Vegetated dunes. July 4, 2006. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower, Side View
Flowers
Flowers
Flowers
Inflorescence
Inflorescence

Woodville, Newfoundland. Wet fen area near old fields. July 22, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Side View
Inflorescence

Grand Bay West, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flowers
Flower, Top View
Inflorescence
Whole Plant
Whole Plant

Grand Bay West, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flowers
Inflorescence
Whole Plant
Whole Plant

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flowers
Flowers
Flowers
Inflorescence
Inflorescence
Whole Plant

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[Platanthera grandiflora x Platanthera lacera "Mainland form" [= Platanthera xkeenanii P. M. Brown nomen invalidum]  -  Hybrid Purple Fringed Orchid - [NF]

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Inflorescence
Whole Plant

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UN-NAMED PRIMARY HYBRIDS INVOLVING P. LACERA "VAR. TERRAE-NOVAE":


Platanthera lacera "var. terrae-novae" x Platanthera psycodes [Newfoundland version of P. xandrewsii]  -  Andrews' Hybrid Fringed Orchid ["Newfoundland form"] - [NF]

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 3, 2006. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower
Inflorescence
Inflorescence

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 3, 2006. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Front View
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Flower, Top View

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 11, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower
Flowers
Flowers
Inflorescence
Flowering Stem

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 22, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower
Flower

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Whole Plant

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flowers
Inflorescence

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flowers
Flowers
Inflorescence

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Flowers
Inflorescence

Lewisporte, Newfoundland. Woolfrey's Pond. Boggy-fen near pond. July 28, 2006. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower
Flowers
Inflorescence
Inflorescence
Flowers Faded
Inflorescence, Flowers Faded
Leaves
Whole Plant
Whole Plant

Little Soldier's Pond, along Trans Canada Highway, south of St. John's, Newfoundland. Fen/bog. August 3, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Flower, Side View
Flower, Top View
Flower, Top View
Flowers
Flowers
Inflorescence
Inflorescence
Whole Plant

Little Soldier's Pond, along Trans Canada Highway, south of St. John's, Newfoundland. Fen/bog. August 4, 2004. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flowers
Flowers

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Platanthera lacera "var. terrae-novae" x Platanthera grandiflora  -  Keenan's Hybrid Fringed Orchid ["Newfoundland form"] - [NF]

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 22, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower, Closeup
Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 22, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flowers
Flowers, Top View
Inflorescence
Inflorescence

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 22, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower, Top View
Flowers, Top View
Flowers
Flowering Stems

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 22, 2003. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Top View
Flower
Flower

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower, Side-View
Flower, Side-View
Inflorescence

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flowers
Flower, Side-View
Flower, Side-View
Flowers, Side-View
Flower, Top-View
Flowers, Top-View
Inflorescence
Whole Plant

Woodville, Newfoundland. Old fields. July 26, 2007. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower, Closeup
Flower, Closeup
Flower, Closeup
Flower
Flowers
Inflorescence
Inflorescence

Stephenville Crossing, Newfoundland. Shore heath along old rail bed. August 1, 2006. [Digital - John Maunder]

Flower
Flowers
Inflorescence
Inflorescence

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