Platanthera michaelii
Michael's rein-orchid, Michael's Rein-Orchid
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Family: Orchidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Platanthera michaelii (Michael's rein-orchid) is a native California herb in the Orchidaceae family, recognized by strong pleasant fragrance, yellow-green color, and concave ascending petals.
Michael's rein-orchid is a California native found along the North Coast, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, northern South Coast, northern Channel Islands, and Western Transverse Ranges, growing in dry sites among coastal scrub, woodland, and mixed-evergreen or closed-cone-pine forest below 700 meters. Flowering from April to August, it produces strongly fragrant green to yellow-green flowers with a deltate-ovate lip and a curved, downward-pointed spur 8 to 12 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; strong pleasant fragrance, yellow-green color, and concave ascending petals are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally dry sites, coastal scrub, woodland, mixed-evergreen or closed-cone-pine forest
Elevation: < 700 m
California counties: Tuolumne, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Monterey, Alameda, Butte, Humboldt, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Ventura, Yuba, Nevada, Stanislaus, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Fresno, San Benito
Bloom period
Platanthera michaelii blooms Apr--Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Listera: Piperia flowers have obvious backward spurs; Listera flowers lack spurs entirely.; vs Platanthera: Piperia is leafless at flowering with dense spikes; Platanthera has leafy stems when blooming.; vs Epipactis: Piperia has tight cylindrical spikes of tiny spurred flowers; Epipactis has loose rows of larger spurless flowers.; vs Goodyera: Piperia is leafless when flowering; Goodyera has distinctive white-veined evergreen leaves present at bloom.; vs Spiranthes: Piperia flowers have backward spurs in straight spikes; Spiranthes lacks spurs and flowers spiral up stem.
Frequently asked questions
Is Platanthera michaelii native to California?
Yes. Platanthera michaelii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Platanthera michaelii bloom?
Platanthera michaelii blooms Apr--Aug.
Where in California does Platanthera michaelii grow?
Platanthera michaelii occurs in Tuolumne, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Monterey, Alameda, Butte, Humboldt and other counties, at elevations of < 700 m.
What plant family does Platanthera michaelii belong to?
Platanthera michaelii is in the Orchidaceae family, genus Platanthera.
Is Platanthera michaelii rare or endangered?
Platanthera michaelii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.