Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.154072
Element CodePMORC1Y150
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusProvisional
Name CategoryVascular Plant
CITESAppendix II
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderOrchidales
FamilyOrchidaceae
GenusPlatanthera
SynonymsLimnorchis aquilonis(Sheviak) Rebrist. & Elven
Other Common NamesBog Orchid (EN) Northern Green Orchid (EN) Platanthère du Nord (FR) Tall Northern Green Orchid (EN)
Concept ReferenceFlora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2002a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 26. Magnoliophyta: Liliidae: Liliales and Orchidales. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxvi + 723 pp.
Taxonomic CommentsDescribed in Lindleyana 14(4): 193 (1999) according to Gray Card Index, web version (Dec. 11, 2000). What was formerly considered Platanthera hyperborea in Canada and the United States is now considered as Platanthera aquilonis, while true P. hyperborea occurs in Greenland (Flora of North America 2002, vol 26).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-07-03
Change Date2002-07-18
Edition Date2025-07-03
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsPlatanthera aquilonis is an orchid occurring in bogs, fens, wet meadows, marshes, tundra, along streambanks, shores, and disturbed sites of North America, throughout western and central Canada east to Newfoundland and Labrador, Alaska, the western and northern United States south to the Rocky Mountains Region, the northern mid-Atlantic Region, and New England. There are over 1,000 estimated occurrences of this taxon rangewide, which are threatened by erosion, livestock grazing, invasive plants, development, recreation, and likely other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent, high number of occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, Platanthera aquilonis is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsPlatanthera aquilonis occurs in North America, throughout western and central Canada east to Newfoundland and Labrador, Alaska, the western and northern United States south to the Rocky Mountains Region, the northern mid-Atlantic Region, and New England (FNA 2002, NAOCC 2025). Range extent was estimated to be over 15 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are more than 1,000 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, Platanthera aquilonis is threatened by erosion, livestock grazing, invasive plants, development, recreation, and likely other threats in some places (NatureServe 2025). There is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this taxon.