Species PlantsRagged Fringed Orchid

Ragged Fringed Orchid

Platanthera lacera

UncommonPlant
Illustration of Ragged Fringed Orchid (Platanthera lacera)

Ragged Fringed Orchid produces a spike of small greenish-white flowers with a deeply and irregularly fringed lip that gives it a raggedy, tattered appearance — the most finely divided of the fringed orchids. It grows in moist to wet open habitats including wet meadows, boggy areas, roadsides, and open woods across eastern and central North America. Despite its modest coloration, it is pollinated primarily by moths attracted to its faint fragrance in the evening. It is often overlooked due to its green-white coloration.

Habitat
Wet meadows, open boggy areas, moist roadsides, open wet woods
Diet
Pollinated by moths attracted to evening fragrance; no significant food value to wildlife
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Ragged Fringed Orchid

The best time to see a Ragged Fringed Orchid is June–July, when about 90% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 3,268 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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