Orchidaceae

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Orchids of Southeast Alaska by Marlin Bowles and Bob Armstrong: https://www.naturebob.com/sites/default/files/Bowles-Armstrong-2019-Native-Orchids-in-Southeast-Alaska.pdf


Family: Orchidaceae

Group: Vascular Plant, Species

Scientific NameCommon NameSummary
Amerorchis rotundifoliaRoundleaf OrchidThis species has not been collected in Southeast Alaska, though there are several collections on the BC side of the border between Skagway and Whitehorse (see e-flora BC link below). However based on the collection records through out BC and Alaska, it appears this species is typically found on the landward side of the coastal mountains, so it may not occur anywhere in Southeast Alaska.
Calypso bulbosaFairy SlipperBased on collections and reports, this species seems to be found almost entirely in spruce forests near shorelines, primarily on small islands (though it is abundant in locations on Kruzof Island near Sitka). One collection inland from Haines is an exception. These are presumed to be var. occidentalis though the FNA distribution map does not have this species occurring much in our region. Do our restricted coastal populations possibly show genetic evidence of separation from the rest of the species throughout the bulk of its range? A few scattered collections from the region - primarily from the islands.
Coeloglossum virideLong-bracted Bog-orchidA few collections, most from the northern mainland, though also collected on Chichagof Island and the central mainland. Associated with limestone?
Corallorhiza maculataSpotted CoralrootARCTOS has several collection records from Southeast Alaska, though none from after 1993, most of these are likely to be C. mertensiana (formerly a subspecies of C. maculata. The distribution map in FNA suggests this species does not occur in our region, however there have been collections from the Haines area confirmed to be C. maculata.
Corallorhiza mertensianaMertens' CoralrootLocally abundant and widespread in forested areas. Collections in ARCTOS mostly from the southern 2/3 of the region, but also from Haines. Probably all the collections in ARCTOS as Corallorhia maculata would now be considered this species.
Corallorhiza trifidaNorthern Coral-rootCollections in ARCTOS from northern Chichagof Island and the northern mainland. Has also occurred on Baranof Island.
Cypripedium montanumMountain Lady's SlipperCollections in ARCTOS from the northern mainland and one from Etolin Island. The Southeast Alaska records appear fairly disjunct from the bulk of the range - candidate for a refugial species?
Cypripedium parviflorumGreater Yellow Lady's SlipperNo collections from the region in ARCTOS. Hulten has records near Haines and Skagway. E-flora BC has a record from Bennett Lake on the BC side of the border.
Cypripedium passerinumNorthern Lady's-slipperCollected from near Haines in 1970 and again in 1979 (same location).
Goodyera oblongifoliaRattlesnake PlantainEvergreen orchid found in uplifted beach forests. The white central stripe and netting of the leaves is unmistakable. A few collections in ARCTOS, all from Sitka or north. Southeast Alaska appears to be where this species reaches its northern limits. It is reported found on Haida Gwaii, so could be presumed to occur in the southern part of the region.
Malaxis monophyllosWhite Adder's-mouthCollections in ARCTOS spanning the region (with some gaps).
Malaxis paludosaBog Adder's-mouthOnly a handful of collections from the region, from eastern Chichagof, also near Juneau, and from Wrangell Island. PacNW herbarium consortium has a couple of additional collections from northern Prince of Wales Island.
Neottia banksianaNorthwestern TwaybladeLocally uncommon small orchid of moderately to higly productive forests. The broad entire lip of the flower and broad leaves distinguish this species from Listera cordata. Collections in ARCTOS from across the region.
Neottia borealisNorthern TwaybladeA single collection in ARCTOS from the Alsek River near the border.
Neottia convallarioidesBroad-lipped TwaybladeA handful of collections in ARCTOS, from Chichagof Island, Admiralty Island, near the Stikine River Mouth and on the Cleveland Peninsula. Candidate for refugial species? (reported from Southeast Alaska, but nearest other locations are southern BC and the Aleutians)
Neottia cordataHeart-leaved TwaybladeSmall two-leaved perennial orchid common in moderately to highly productive forests Collections from throughout the region
Piperia unalascensisAlaska Bog-orchidFor collections in ARCTOS from the region - two from Takhin Ridge outside of Haines, one from Glacier Bay, and one from Red Bluff Bay on Baranof Island.
Platanthera aquilonisNorthern Green Bog OrchidThree collections from the far northern mainland, in the vicinity of Haines, Yakutat, and in the St. Elias Mountains.
Platanthera chorisianaChoris' Bog-orchidInfrequently found small orchid of bogs. The two oval basal leaves and spurred flowers distinguish it from other bog orchids. Collections spanning much of the region, but not upper Lynn Canal, nor Prince of Wales and associated outer islands.
Platanthera dilatataWhite Bog-orchidSlender white flowered orchid found in beach meadows and rich fens. Many collections in ARCTOS spanning the region.
Platanthera ephemeranthaWhite-lip Rein OrchidA handful of collections of this species in ARCTOS, from Prince of Wales, Kuiu, Kruzof Islands, and Glacier Bay.
Platanthera huronensisGreen Bog-orchidCollection records suggest this species is found primarily in the northern part of Southeast Alaska.
Platanthera hyperboreaNorthern Bog-orchidThere are a handful of collection in ARCTOS from the far northern mainland identified as this species.

This species was included in both the preliminary checklist (as var. hyperborea) and in Hall's 2010 treatment (where she says it also includes P. convallariifolia).

FNA suggests this species only occurs in Greenland, but notes it has been confused with Northern Green Bog Orchid (Platanthera aquilonis), and e-Flora BC redirects this species to P. aquilonis, so that seems like the most likely option for which species Muller's treatment referred to.

Hall's 2010 treatment may be better referring to Green Bog-orchid (Platanthera huronensis), however.
Platanthera obtusataSmall Bog-orchidA small whitish green flowered orchid found in forested beach fringe in northern southeast Alaska. Three collections in ARCTOS, all from the northern mainland, with the southernmost near the Endicott River.
Platanthera orbiculataPad-leaved Bog-orchidLarge rare orchid with a single pair of broadly oval basal leaves found in productive forests Four collections in ARCTOS from the southern third of the region.
Platanthera strictaSlender Bog-orchidCommon greenish flowered orchid of bog-forest transitions and fens. Many collections from across the region.
Spiranthes romanzoffianaHooded Ladies-tressesCollections spanning the region from south to north, but only one from the outer islands in ARCTOS.