Platanthera shriveri
# Platanthera shriveri

Platanthera shriveri, Shriver's purple fringed orchid, is a rare orchid endemic to the United States. It is considered critically imperiled.

## Description

Platanthera shriveri plants look very similar to Platanthera grandiflora and a hybrid origin with Platanthera lacera is suspected. To distinguish Platanthera shriveri from Platanthera grandiflora small morphological details and a different bloom time (July and August, about 3 weeks later) have to be observed.

## Distribution and habitat

The only known populations are in Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania (historic record only), Virginia and West Virginia. They grow in woodlands and along stream banks.

## Taxonomy

Platanthera shriveri was described as a new species by P. M. Brown in 2008.

There is ongoing research whether the plants described as Platanthera shriveri are a separate botanical species or can be considered within the morphological and bloom time ranges of Platanthera grandiflora.

