Platanthera ciliaris (Yellow fringed orchid)

Less than ten miles into the Pisgah National Forest on FSR 475, there are a couple of dozen Yellow fringed orchids scattered up and down the mowed roadside. Fortunately, they mowed early in the spring, so they didn't do any damage to the orchids.

A few of these orchids had an unusual, light-colored lip. I have seen this before on some of the orchid flowers in this area. At first, I thought it might be the result of a cross between the Yellow fringed orchid and the White fringed orchid, but there are none of the White fringed orchid (that I know of) anywhere near the forest. I believe it is just a color variation in the lip.

In any case, it was good to see these coming into bloom. Yellow fringed orchid is one species of orchid that is found not only in the mountains but also along the Atlantic Coastal Plain.