Platanthera

The genus Platanthera belongs to the subfamily Orchidoideae of the family Orchidaceae, and comprises about 100 species of orchids. The members of this genus were previously included in the genus Orchis, which is a close relative (along with the genus Habenaria). They are distributed throughout the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They are terrestrial and have tubercules.

Species of Platanthera

Many species can cross-fertilise, resulting in great morphological variety and complicating classification.
The type species is Platanthera bifolia (L.) Rich. 1817
More than 400 species, subspecies, and varieties have been described, of which 85 are clearly defined. Most of this are found distributed about Asia.
52 species from temperate Asian countries (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan), 13 species from tropical Asian countries (Burma, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines), 37 species from North America north of Mexico, 7 species from Europe.
They include:

• North America:

Platanthera psycodes

Platanthera aquilonis  Platanthera bifolia Platanthera blephariglottis Platanthera brevifolia Platanthera chlorantha Platanthera chorisiana Platanthera ciliaris Platanthera clavellata Platanthera cristata Platanthera dilatata Platanthera flava Platanthera grandiflora  Platanthera holochila Platanthera hookeri Platanthera huronensis Platanthera hyperborea Platanthera integra Platanthera integrilabia Platanthera lacera Platanthera leucophaea Platanthera leucostachys Platanthera limosa Platanthera macrophylla Platanthera nivea Platanthera obtusata Platanthera orbiculata Platanthera pallida Platanthera peramoena Platanthera praeclara Platanthera sparsiflora Platanthera psycodes Platanthera stricta Platanthera tescamnis Platanthera yosemitensis Platanthera zothecina

• Asia:

Platanthera algeriensis

Platanthera brevicalcarata Platanthera chorisiana Platanthera florenti Platanthera fuscensis Platanthera holmboei Platanthera hologlottis Platanthera japonica Platanthera mandarinorum

Platanthera metabifolia Platanthera minor Platanthera okuboi Platanthera ophrydioides Platanthera sachalinensis Platanthera tipuloides Platanthera ussuriensis

• Europe:
  • Platanthera algeriensis
  • Platanthera bifolia
  • Platanthera chlorantha
  • Platanthera holmboei
  • Platanthera hyperborea
  • Platanthera obtusata var. oligantha

• North Africa:
  • Platanthera algeriensis
  • Platanthera kuenkelei

• Azores
  • Platanthera azorica
  • Platanthera micrantha

• Pacific
  • Platanthera holochila