Platanthera sparsiflora

{{Short description|Species of orchid}}

{{Italic title}}

{{Speciesbox

| name = Sparse-flowered bog orchid

| image= Platanthera sparsiflora - Flickr 004.jpg

| image_caption =

| genus = Platanthera

| species = sparsiflora

| authority = (S.Watson) Schltr.

| synonyms_ref =

| synonyms = *Habenaria sparsiflora S.Watson

• Limnorchis sparsiflora (S.Watson) Rydb.
• Habenaria thurberi var. grayi S.Watson
• Limnorchis ensifolia Rydb.
• Limnorchis laxiflora Rydb.
• Habenaria aggregata Howell
• Habenaria leucostachys var. viridis Jeps.
• Habenaria sparsiflora var. laxiflora (Rydb.) Correll
• Platanthera sparsiflora var. ensifolia (Rydb.) Luer

}}

Platanthera sparsiflora is a species of orchid known by the common name sparse-flowered bog orchid. It is native to the forests and meadows of the western United States (Colorado and New Mexico west to California, plus Washington and Oregon), and also south to Baja California.[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=157382 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families][http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242101853 Flora of North America v 26 p 561, Platanthera sparsiflora ][http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Platanthera%20sparsiflora.png Biota of North America Program, county distribution map]

Platanthera sparsiflora can be found in wet habitats. It produces a slender, erect flowering stem up to about {{convert|1/2|m|ftin|sp=us}} tall. The longest leaves near the base of the stem are up to {{convert|15|cm|in|frac=3|sp=us}} long by {{convert|3|cm|in|frac=4|sp=us}} wide. The inflorescence has widely spaced twisted green flowers with petals up to {{convert|1|cm|in|frac=3|sp=us}} in length.