This is a widespread southeastern taxon of wet acid soils on broad terraces and streamheads, usually associated with freshly deposited clay along small empheral streams that often dry up in summer and fall. Some colls. may be difficult to distinguish from herbiola, and should be rechecked. Typical flava and herbiola appear to be the only Platanthera species in eastern North America that spread clonally with "elongate fleshy tuberoids" (F; FNA 26). Flowering in Ky. occurs mostly during early Jul to late Aug.