PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Pale Green Orchid (Platanthera flava var. herbiola)

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Photo by J. Balaban

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Pale Green Orchid (Platanthera flava var. herbiola), a Wisconsin Threatened plant, is found in a variety of habitats, including moist prairies, sedge meadows, floodplain forests, riverbanks, and ditches. Blooming occurs early-June through early-August, fruiting early-July through late-August. The optimal identification period for this species is late-June through early-August.

Habenaria flava var. herbiola, Habenaria herbiola

 
 
 

Pale green orchid is an erect forb, 3-7dm tall with leafy stems and an inflorescence that is a congested spike with elongate bracts. Flowers are sessile, greenish-yellow or green, 5-6mm wide. Its lip is deflexed, 4-6mm, often irregular on the margin, bearing a conspicuous, fin-like extension on the upper side just below the middle, and usually with a small lateral lobe on each side at the base. Spur is 3-6mm. Its fruit are glabrous, erect capsules that are more or less sessile and taper on both ends. Its leaves are cauline. The lower leaves are well developed, lance-linear to lanceolate or lance-elliptic, to 20cm long and 5cm wide. The upper leaves are much reduced or bract-like.

It can be distinguished from other orchids by its lip, which has an erect tubercule on the upper side, below the middle, its leafy stem, and its congested spike with elongate bracts.

Blooming occurs early-June through early-August. fruiting early-July through late-August.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is late-June through early-August.

Associated species are many and varied, but most frequently include Carex stricta, other Carex species, Cornus stolonifera, Platanthera lacera, P clavellata, Drosera rotundifolia, Solidago species, Onoclea sensibilis, Euthamia graminifolia, and Polygonum sagittatum.

Pale green orchid prefers moist to wet soils and is found in a variety of habitats, including moist prairies, sedge meadows, floodplain forests, river banks, and ditches.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Prescribed burns and/or brushing may be beneficial, dependent on local site conditions and burn frequency. Rotational burns with annual unburned refugia may be preferred.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Maintain and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.

This species is likely sensitive to water quality. Following BMPs around streams and buffering associated drainages will reduce eutrophication and prevent water quality degradation.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.