| Author | (Correll) Luer | |
| Distribution | Formerly found at a few sites in the southwestern Mountains, but now of historical occurrence in the state.
This is a scarce orchid with a small range in the greater Southern Appalachians. It ranges north to southeastern KY, south to northwestern SC, northern GA, central AL, and northeastern MS. It is known from just seven states. | |
| Abundance | Formerly extremely rare but now considered extirpated in the state. It recently was Federally listed as Threatened. The State Status is Special Concern - Historical, and the State Rank is SH (Historical). | |
| Habitat | The habitat(s) in NC was considered to be bogs. However, in other states it is more often found in wooded seepages and springheads, including Red Maple (Acer rubrum)--gum swamps. In general, it is found in shaded or semi-shaded wet habitats. |
| Phenology | Blooms from July into September and fruits shortly after flowering. | |
| Identification | This is a rather tall and striking orchid, growing to about 3 feet tall with snow white flowers. Though it has relatively few flowers on the inflorescence compared with other Platanthera species -- only about 6-15 flowers -- they are large, with each flower spur being 1.5-2 inches long, curved behind the flower. The lip is long and narrow but is not cut into fringes as is P. blephariglottis. There are two or three relatively narrow leaves on the lower part of the stem. As this is a very obvious species when flowering in mountain wetlands, it will not be overlooked by biologists if seen in bloom. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | For much or most of the last century, this taxon had been lumped into P. blephariglottis, though usually as var. integrilabia. Essentially all recent references and field guides do give it full species status now.
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| Other Common Name(s) | Monkey-face Orchid | |
| State Rank | SH | |
| Global Rank | G2G3 | |
| State Status | SC-H | |
| US Status | LT | |
| USACE-agcp | OBL link |
| USACE-emp | OBL link |
