Platanthera clavellata var. clavellata

Platanthera clavellata var. clavellata [Little Club Spur Orchid]

Little Club Spur Orchid [Platanthera clavellata var clavellata]. Tioga County, Pa. 7-29-21. The two dark areas parallel to each other in the throat of the flower in the pictures above and below show the anther caps where the pollen is stored for these particular flowers. These flowers are considered to be self pollinating, but insects can and go explore these flowers and do move pollen between plants.

Little Club Spur Orchid [Platanthera clavellata var clavellata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-27-22. The two dark areas side by side deep in the throat of the flower in these three pictures show the anthers caps where the pollen is stored for these particular flowers. These flowers are considered to be self pollinating, but insects can and go explore these flowers and do move pollen between plants.

Little Club Spur Orchid [Platanthera clavellata var clavellata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-27-22

Unknown insect on Little Club Spur Orchid [Platanthera clavellata var clavellata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-27-22

Little Club Spur Orchid [Platanthera clavellata var clavellata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-27-22

Little Club Spur orchid [Platanthera clavellata var. clavellata]. North Central Pa., 7-24-21

Little Club-Spur orchid [Platanthera clavellata var. clavellata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-20-20

Little Club-Spur orchid [ Platanthera clavellata var. clavellata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-20-20

The beautiful and tiny Little Club-Spur orchid [Platanthera clavellata var. clavellata]. This little jewel can be found tucked in damp wet areas. Almost hidden from view, that's what makes it so special. This tiny plant [my first orchid find] is what got me started down the wonderful road of wild orchids. Dauphin County,Pa.7-20-20.The following is from the wonderful book "Wild Orchids of The Northeast" by my friend Paul Martin Brown. "The small ,pale greenish flowers of the Little club-Spur Orchid are very different from any other orchids we have, and they also hold themselves at curious angles on the stem. The distinctive spur, with its swollen tip give this plant its common name."