Platanthera psychodes

One does not visit Gros Morne national park only because it was named world heritage by the Unesco. Gros Morne is, more than anything else, the promised land for any orchidist looking for wild orchids.   

After a walk of about 300 metres on a steep path, our efforts were rewarded and we finally stood on the Tablelands.    The Tablelands are a plateau approximately 600 metres above sea level.  It is continually swept by the wind. Other than the magnificent view of the park, we found on the Tablelands the small kingdom of the Small purple fringed orchid.  

The colonies we had the chance to see grew under direct sunlight, in a well drained soil composed mostly of moist moss.  We have to mention that in Newfoundland, during summer, it’s raining one day out of two.

With their stem from 30 cm to 50 cm and their fringed flowers, the small purple fringed orchids have no reason to envy tropical orchids.  Many orchidists dream of having them in their personal collection.  But there is only in nature that we can really appreciate Platanthera psychodes.