(Banks ex Pursh) Lindl.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.141040
Element CodePMORC1Y0J0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
CITESAppendix II
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderOrchidales
FamilyOrchidaceae
GenusPlatanthera
SynonymsHabenaria obtusata(Banks ex Pursh) Richards.Lysiella obtusata(Banks ex Pursh) Rydb.
Other Common NamesBluntleaf Orchid (EN) bluntleaved orchid (EN) Platanthère à feuille obtuse (FR)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-07-07
Change Date1994-02-08
Edition Date2025-07-07
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 obtusata is an orchid occurring in mesic to wet coniferous forests, fens, sphagnum bogs, stream banks, tundra, and roadsides of North America and Eurasia. In North America, P. obtusata ssp. obtusata occurs throughout all of Canada and Alaska in the United States south to Oregon, Utah, Colorado, the Great Lakes region, and New York. There are over 800 estimated occurrences of this taxon in North America, which are potentially threatened by development, water diversion, alteration of hydrology, erosion, rights-of-way maintenance (including mowing and herbicide), invasive species, deer browse, succession, and likely other threats in some places.
Little is known about threats and trends, but with a large range extent, high number of occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, Platanthera obtusata is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsPlatanthera obtusata ssp. obtusata occurs in North America, throughout all of Canada and Alaska in the United States south to Oregon, Utah, Colorado, the Great Lakes region, and New York (FNA 2002). Platanthera obtusata ssp. oligantha occurs throughout subarctic Eurasia and northern Mongolia (POWO 2025). The range extent in North America was estimated to be over 17 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). See individual entries for distribution details about the one subspecies found in North America.
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 800 occurrences in North America (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, Platanthera obtusata is potentially threatened in North America by development, water diversion, alteration of hydrology, erosion, rights-of-way maintenance (including mowing and herbicide), invasive species, deer browse, succession, and likely other threats in some places.