Sierra Bog Orchid-Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys

It may come as a surprise to many hikers to find beautiful three foot stems covered with orchids next to streams in the Great Basin. Nonetheless, that's what they are, the Sierra bog orchid (Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys). There are plenty of other names, including white rein orchid, white bog orchid, white-flowered bog orchid, and the scientific names Platanthera leuchostachys and Habenaria dilatata.

The flowers are made up of an upper sepal and upper 2 petals that form a hood over the reproductive parts, the lower 2 sepals spread out as wings, and the lower petal curves at the base and then becomes a long spur. 

For more information about sierra bog orchid, click here.

Summer Coralroot-Corallorhiza maculata

The desert is not a place one often associates with orchids, but at least a couple species are present, including summer coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata), also called spotted coralroot.

This is a very interesting plant. As you can see, it is not green at all, and it does not use photosynthesis to produce energy. Instead, it parasitizes nearby fungi. Click the link below to learn more.

Looking closer at the small flowers, you can see it definitely has an orchid appearance. The spots on the lower petal are referred to in the species name "maculata," which means spotted.

For more information about summer coralroot, click here.