Platanthera L. C. Rich.
粉蝶蘭屬
Terrestrial perennial herbs with fleshy stoloniform or ellipsoid tuberoids. Stems erect, with few to several cauline or basal leaves, sheathing at base. Leaves alternate, usually elliptic, oblong or lanceolate. Inflorescence terminal, racemose or spicate, with few to many flowers; bracts often erect, usually lanceolate. Flowers greenish, yellowish or white, resupinate; dorsal sepal often short and broad, concave; lateral sepals longer than dorsal one, often spreading or reflexed; petals narrow, connivent with dorsal sepal forming hood, or spreading and divergent from dorsal sepal; lip adnate to base of column, usually fleshy, ligulate or linear, not divided, ascending or reflexed, base produced into long or short spur; column short and stout; anther terminal, erect, basally connate with column, 2-celled, with distinct connective between, cells separated, parallel or divergent below, with auricles or staminodes on outer side; pollinia 2, sectile, with long caudicle attaching to naked viscidium; stigma entire, protruding on convex surface surrounded by rostellum, or on concave surface below narrow rostellum; rostellum protruding roof-like or flat narrow tape-like, extending on both sides into lateral arms beside base of anther cell, not forming pouch-like bursicles.
About 150 species, in north temperate regions, extending to mountainous and alpine areas of the tropics and subtropics. Eight species in Taiwan.
