Platanthera transversa
Flat spurred piperia, Flat Spurred Piperia
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orchidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Platanthera transversa (Flat spurred piperia) is a native California herb in the Orchidaceae family, recognized by perpendicular spurs and clove fragrance are uniquely diagnostic.
Flat spurred piperia is a California native found in the Northwestern California, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Central Western California, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges bioregions, in dry sites among scrub, oak woodland, and mixed-evergreen or conifer forest below 2,600 meters. Flowering from May to August, it produces clove-scented white to yellowish flowers with an oblong to ovate lip and a straight spur held perpendicular to the flower stalk.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; perpendicular spurs and clove fragrance are uniquely diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally dry sites, scrub, oak woodland, mixed-evergreen or conifer forest
Elevation: < 2600 m
California counties: San Bernardino, San Diego, Mariposa, Fresno, Lake, San Mateo, Trinity, Mendocino, Santa Cruz, Marin, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Humboldt, Plumas, Riverside, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, Monterey, Tulare, Madera, Placer, El Dorado, Nevada, Sonoma, Butte, Contra Costa, Tehama, Yuba, Shasta, San Luis Obispo, Napa, Sierra, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Amador, Alameda
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Platanthera transversa blooms May--Aug.
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 transversa native to California?
Yes. Platanthera transversa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Platanthera transversa bloom?
Platanthera transversa blooms May--Aug.
Where in California does Platanthera transversa grow?
Platanthera transversa occurs in San Bernardino, San Diego, Mariposa, Fresno, Lake, San Mateo, Trinity, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of < 2600 m.
What plant family does Platanthera transversa belong to?
Platanthera transversa is in the Orchidaceae family, genus Platanthera.
What habitat does Platanthera transversa grow in?
Platanthera transversa grows in Generally dry sites, scrub, oak woodland, mixed-evergreen or conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Platanthera unalascensis — Alaska piperia, slender-spire orchid
- Platanthera yadonii — Yadon's rein-orchid
- Platanthera yosemitensis — Yosemite bog-orchid
- Platanthera colemanii — Coleman's rein-orchid
- Platanthera cooperi — Chaparral rein-orchid
- Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys — White-flowered bog-orchid
- Spiranthes perexilis — Slender starry ladies' tresses
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.