Platanthera yosemitensis, the Yosemite bog orchid,[4] is a species of orchid that is endemic to nine wet montane meadows between the main stem and the South Fork of the Merced River in Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite bog orchid | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Orchidaceae |
Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
Genus: | Platanthera |
Species: | P. yosemitensis
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Binomial name | |
Platanthera yosemitensis Colwell, Sheviak and P.Moore[2]
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Synonyms[3] | |
Limnorchis yosemitensis (Colwell, Sheviak & P.E.Moore) P.M.Br., S.L.Stewart & Gamarra |
First collected in 1923, it was not recognized as a distinct species until 2007. The species grows at altitudes of 1,800–2,700 m (5,900–8,900 ft). The orchid has a foul smell that has variously been described as "corral of horses, asafetida, strong cheese, human feet, sweaty clothing, or simply disagreeable".[5] The orchid's yellow flowers are less than 8 mm (1⁄4 in) wide, and are pollinated by insects.[6]