Species identification of Orchid, Insectivorous plant and Lichen. The orchid was growing at the banks of the upper Matane river, Quebec and I believe it to be Platanthera spp.? The Lichen was gowing on the bark of an ancient Cedar tree on the banks of the upper Ste Anne river, Quebec . The carnivorous plants (Butterwort?) had recently flowered and were growing in a rock crevice on the upper Grande river, Quebec. Species identification would be welcomed. Thank you.
The butterwort is likely Pinguicula vulgaris -- I think it is too tall and not hairy enough for Pinguicula villosa. These are the only two species that might occur in the area. And what you are calling a liverwort is actually a lichen -- Lobaria, perhaps Lobaria pulmonaria.
Thank you for the identification of the insectivorous plant and lichen. Are the insectivorous plants rare in Quebec? I have certaintly never seen them before. After your identication of the lichen, I did some further research and found that it is most likely Lobaria pulmonaria that is an indicator of air quality due to intolerance of pollution. Apparently its preferred habitat is old growth forests. This description fits well with the environment in which it was found.
I'll have to check a resource at work tomorrow re: rarity (if that book even lists relative rarity). As for the orchid, one of either Platanthera grandiflora or Platanthera psycodes.
Sorry, the Flora of Canada doesn't discuss the abundance of species in various areas, and the best I could determine from Flore Laurentienne is that the species does not occur in eastern Quebec (but seems to be relatively broadly distributed as it does extend far north) -- so my guess is that it is locally common. I note that the Flore Laurentienne is being moved online, but that particular family hasn't yet been added to the online database.
Again, thank you for identifying the orchid and for the information re the Butterwort. Interesting that these insectivorous plants were observed in Eastern Quebec (Gaspe area). Also of interest is the fact that they occurred in a neutral to alkaline environment -growing on a rock that is subjected to seasonal flooding by the Riviere Grande. Although I did not check the pH, the river Grande, like others in the area is apparently neutral to alkaline.
