Platanthera chlorantha - Greater Butterfly-orchid
Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Liliopsida - Order: Orchidales - Family: Orchidaceae
Description
Like Lesser Butterfly Orchid, Greater Butterfly Orchid has two shiny leaves at the base of the plant with further bract-like leaves higher up the stem. It grows to around 40cm in height. The flowers are greenish-white and rather waxy in appearance. There is a long spur to the rear of the flower. The pollinia are white (turning brown with age) and are V-shaped, unlike those of the Lesser Butterfly Orchid Platanthera bifolia which are parallel. Close inspection of the pollinia is the only way to be certain of accurate identifcation of these two orchids.
Distribution
This is predominantly a European species and can be found from Scandinavia in the north as far south as the Mediterranean region. It is also recorded from North Africa.
Habitat
Now most often found in unimproved meadows in the UK this species grows in open deciduous woodland rides in other parts of Europe. It is also recorded from dune slacks and in fenland.
Flowering times
June and July
The specimens shown above were photographed in West Wales in June at Cae Blaen Dyffryn Nature Reserve.
Varieties and Hybrids
A hybrid between Lesser Butterfly-orchid Platanthera bifolia and Greater Butterfly-orchid Platanthera chlorantha - Platanthera x hybrida - is rare but sometimes occurs where the two species flower together.
Etymology
The genus name Platanthera comes from Greek and means 'broad or wide anther', referring to the wide separation of the bases of the two pollinia in the Lesser Butterfly Orchid, which is the type species of the genus. (Not all Platanthera species display this charcter, however.) The specific epithet chlorantha means green flowered; the flowers of this orchid are noticeably more green-tinged than those of the Lesser Butterfly-orchid.
Reference sources
The Plant List
Sue Parker (2023) Wild Orchids of Wales - how, when and where to find them; First Nature e-book (Amazon Kindle format)
Sue Parker (2023) Wild Orchids of the Algarve - where, when and how to find them; First Nature e-book (Amazon Kindle format)
Anne and Simon Harrap (2005) Orchids of Britain and Ireland; A&C Black
Pierre Delforge (2005) Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East; A&C Black
Den Nordiska Floran (1992) Bo Mossberg, Stefan Ericsson and Lennart Stenberg; Wahlstrom & Widstrand
Les Orchidees de France, Belgique et Luxemborg; Parthenope Collection
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