Genus: Platanthera from Greek for 'flat' and 'flower', or 'flat-anthered'
Species: leucostachys means white flowering stalked inflorenscence
aka Bog Candle. According to Biek this is the more likely specie here than P. dilatata, commonly known as the White Rein Orchid, which is evidently rare in the Park. This genus of orchid is also known as Habenaria. The flowers form a dense spike atop leafy stems which grow 8" - 32" (20 - 80 cm) depending on elevation. Like all orchids the flower is intricate with a hood formed by the upper sepal and two petals, lateral sepals spreading widley to the side and a spur beneath the lip. Common in wet meadows above 2,500' elevation. (ref. Biek)
