Scotty Smith's Orchids of Colorado. - Southwest Colorado Wildflowers

Platanthera purpurascens (Rydb.) Sheviak & JenningsPlatanthera purpurascens, (pla-tan‟-ther-ah)+(pur-pur-as‟-enz), deriving its name from the intensepurple spotting that is found on some of the flowers its range. Platanthera derived from the Greekwords meaning ”wide anther”, in reference to the broad anther on the flower in this orchid.Common name: short-spurred bog orchidFlowering: middle of June thru August.Description: The floral stem blooms from the bottom first and then blossoms upwards. Theblooming time of this orchid is a two months long or better. The higher the elevation the later itblooms and the later it stays blossoming. The flower itself is deep green in color. Flowers can bedensely to lightly packed along the stem. The sepals fold downwards and twist inwards parallelingthe spur. The petals and dorsal sepal come together to form a type of hood over the column. Thishooded portion along with the lower sepal and lip stand erect and parallel to the flowering stem.This orchid also has a nectary or spur which contains the nectar that so many insects and moths arestriving for. The spur is usually scrotiform to clavate. It also curves outward from the base of thespur and flower. The spur is dark green and shorter than the lip. The leaves are dark green andbetween 3-6 leaves are scattered along the stem before the flowers start. Besides its sac-like spur, thisorchid is identified by it aroma or smell. It has a strong musty smell. Not sweet like many otherorchids.Habitat: This orchid grows from full shade to partial sunshine. Mostly found growing in wetswampy ground to having running water around the plant. It is an orchid that grows in road sidecuts. The height of this orchid during blooming time is between 4 to 18 inches and varies withhabitat and altitude conditions, amounts of water, and elevations. It grows at elevations between5,000 and 10,000 feet in Colorado. This orchid can be found growing in Clear Creek River inDenver.159