Platanthera integrilabia

Common Names

White Fringeless Orchid, Monkey Face Orchid

Summary

Platanthera integrilabia is a southeastern United States native orchid and a perennial herb with a hairless erect stem 50–80 cm tall and basal leaves, it bears a loose spike of 6–15 white flowers at the stem apex, with two rounded lateral sepals that droop, an overlapping upper sepal forming a hood, and a spoon-shaped lip with a long backward-curving spur, the flowers are fragrant at night, and a slender capsule follows fruiting as seeds are wind-dispersed from the dust-like seeds, it grows in wet, acidic seeps, bogs, and swamps, often in partially shaded areas along streams or seepage slopes, conservation relies on habitat protection and restoration, aided by ex situ propagation, seed germination is mycotrophic, requiring the fungus Epulorhiza inquilina, and seeds are wind-dispersed and lack stored food, making germination highly dependent on fungal partners, cross-pollination is required for fruit set, with large butterflies as confirmed pollinators, some nocturnal visitors may occur, but cross-pollination remains important, practical management includes preventing habitat disturbance, maintaining hydrology, thinning woody vegetation to create openings, eradicating exotics and feral hogs, and fencing to reduce herbivory, ex situ conservation is advanced by seed banks and propagation, with the Atlanta Botanical Garden maintaining over 100 maternal lines and more than 10,000 seeds, reintroduction and monitoring programs aim to sustain existing populations and expand range.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

20-32 inches

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade; tolerates partial sun and partial shade to full sun.

Soil Type

Acidic, wet boggy soils (peaty seeps, bogs, marshes, fens)

Soil Drainage

Wet, poorly drained soils.

Soil pH

Acidic soil (low pH)

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Summer (late July–September)

Foliage Color

Green

Growth Rate

No reliable population growth rate estimates exist for Platanthera integrilabia.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, tubers

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and butterflies