Platanthera psycodes (L.) Lindl.
Small purple fringed orchid, lesser purple fringed orchid
These enchanting orchids are North American natives.
Plants: 8–39″ (20–100 cm) tall, with a single, hairless stem.
Leaves: Oval (elliptic) at the base, or sometimes oval but wider at the end opposite the stem (obovate). Further up the stem, the leaves become much smaller and narrower. The leaves are alternate, have pointed tips, and parallel veins.
Flowers: A cone-shaped inflorescence up to 10″ (25 cm) long tops the stem, containing 20-50 lovely flowers. Flowers are lilac-colored, sometimes more reddish, rarely white; about ½–¾″ (1.3–1.9 cm) around, with dainty fringes (fine teeth). Lesser purple fringed orchid has a bigger brother, greater purple fringed orchid, Platanthera grandiflora. It has larger flowers, with lip petals at least ½″ (1.4 cm) wide. Flowers appear from July to August.
Fruits: Narrow, three-ribbed capsules on short stalks.
Habitats: River banks, roadside ditches, moist meadows, swamps.
Online References:
References:
Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 36
7/19/2012 · Cow Lane, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm) 
7/19/2012 · Cow Lane, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 9″ (14 × 22 cm) 
7/19/2012 · Cow Lane, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm) 
7/19/2012 · Cow Lane, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 9 × 12″ (23 × 29 cm) 
7/19/2012 · Cow Lane, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm) 
7/19/2012 · Cow Lane, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 27 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Liliopsida | Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family |
| Subclass | Liliidae | Includes lilies, orchids, and many others |
| Order | Asparagales | A diverse group that includes asparagus |
| Family | Orchidaceae | Orchid family |
| Genus | Platanthera | From Greek for “wide” and “flower,” hence “wide or flat-anthered” |
| Species | psycodes | “Like a butterfly” |
Platanthera psycodes description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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