Platanthera bifolia (L.) Rich.
  • De Orchid. Eur. : 35 (1817) 
  • Lesser butterfly-orchid


Cite taxon page as 'WFO (2023): Platanthera bifolia (L.) Rich. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000274336. Accessed on: 30 Sep 2023'

Local Descriptions

Order descriptions by:

General Information

Plants 28-42 cm tall. Rootstock tuberous, ovoid-fusiform, tapering at base, 2.5-3 × 0.8-1.4 cm. Stem erect, with 1 or 2 tubular sheaths at base, 2-leaved. Leaves basal, subopposite, spatulate-elliptic, oblong, or elliptic, 9-12 × 1.8-3.5 cm, gradually contracted at base, apex obtuse. Peduncle slender to robust, with 2-4 scattered, lanceolate bracts; rachis 9-19 cm, laxly to subdensely 7-17-flowered; floral bracts lanceolate, 15-20 mm, basal ones exceeding ovary. Flowers fragrant, white, greenish white, or green; pedicel and ovary arcuate, cylindric, 14-15 mm. Dorsal sepal erect and forming a hood with petals, ovate to broadly ovate, cymbiform, 5.5-6 × 4-4.5 mm, glabrous, apex obtuse; lateral sepals spreading, ovate-lanceolate, oblique, 6-7 × 3.5-4 mm, glabrous, apex subacute. Petals linear-lanceolate, oblique, 5.5-6 × ca. 1 mm, apex acute; lip spreading, ligulate, 9-10 × 1-1.5 mm, thickened, entire, apex obtuse; spur pendulous, cylindric, slender, 20-25 × 1.5-1.8 mm, apex subacute. Column stout; staminodes conspicuous; anther locules slightly divergent; pollinia ellipsoid, with long caudicles and suborbicular viscidia; rostellum belt-shaped; stigma lobes confluent, concave, lying directly below rostellum. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 42.

  • Provided by: [B].Flora of China @ efloras.org
    • Source: [
    • 1
    • ]. 

    Morphology

    Stängel 20–50 cm hoch, über dem Grund mit zwei bis 15 cm langen, eilanzettlichen Blättern, weiter oben mit 1–4 kleinen, lineal-lanzettlichen Blättern. Blütenstand locker. Blüten weiss, bisweilen etwas grünlich überlaufen, wohlriechend

  • Provided by: [A].Flora Helvetica – Illustrierte Flora der Schweiz
    • Source: [
    • 3
    • ]. 

    Ecology

    5–7. Wälder, Borstgras- und Riedwiesen, kollin-subalpin(-alpin). CH.

  • Provided by: [A].Flora Helvetica – Illustrierte Flora der Schweiz
    • Source: [
    • 3
    • ]. 
    Flora of China @ efloras.orgGeneral Information

    Plants 28-42 cm tall. Rootstock tuberous, ovoid-fusiform, tapering at base, 2.5-3 × 0.8-1.4 cm. Stem erect, with 1 or 2 tubular sheaths at base, 2-leaved. Leaves basal, subopposite, spatulate-elliptic, oblong, or elliptic, 9-12 × 1.8-3.5 cm, gradually contracted at base, apex obtuse. Peduncle slender to robust, with 2-4 scattered, lanceolate bracts; rachis 9-19 cm, laxly to subdensely 7-17-flowered; floral bracts lanceolate, 15-20 mm, basal ones exceeding ovary. Flowers fragrant, white, greenish white, or green; pedicel and ovary arcuate, cylindric, 14-15 mm. Dorsal sepal erect and forming a hood with petals, ovate to broadly ovate, cymbiform, 5.5-6 × 4-4.5 mm, glabrous, apex obtuse; lateral sepals spreading, ovate-lanceolate, oblique, 6-7 × 3.5-4 mm, glabrous, apex subacute. Petals linear-lanceolate, oblique, 5.5-6 × ca. 1 mm, apex acute; lip spreading, ligulate, 9-10 × 1-1.5 mm, thickened, entire, apex obtuse; spur pendulous, cylindric, slender, 20-25 × 1.5-1.8 mm, apex subacute. Column stout; staminodes conspicuous; anther locules slightly divergent; pollinia ellipsoid, with long caudicles and suborbicular viscidia; rostellum belt-shaped; stigma lobes confluent, concave, lying directly below rostellum. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 42.

    Flora Helvetica – Illustrierte Flora der SchweizMorphology

    Stängel 20–50 cm hoch, über dem Grund mit zwei bis 15 cm langen, eilanzettlichen Blättern, weiter oben mit 1–4 kleinen, lineal-lanzettlichen Blättern. Blütenstand locker. Blüten weiss, bisweilen etwas grünlich überlaufen, wohlriechend

    Ecology

    5–7. Wälder, Borstgras- und Riedwiesen, kollin-subalpin(-alpin). CH.

    Distribution Map

     
    • Native distribution
    Found in
    • Europe Northern Europe Ireland

    Synonyms

    Nationally Preferred Names

    NameLanguageCountry
    Lesser butterfly-orchidEnglishIE
    Magairlín beag an fhéileacáinIrishIE

    Other Local Names

    NameLanguageCountry
    Platanthère à deux feuillesFrenchCH
    Weisses BreitkölbchenGermanCH
    Platantera bifegliaRaeto-RomanceCH
    Platantera comuneItalianCH

     Information From

    Flora Helvetica – Illustrierte Flora der Schweiz
    http://www.flora-helvetica.ch
    Flora Helvetica – Illustrierte Flora der Schweiz, Konrad Lauber, Gerhart Wagner, Andreas Gygax. Haupt Verlag 2018.
    • A All Rights Reserved
    Flora of China @ efloras.org
    'Flora of China @ eFloras (2008). Published on the Internet http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=2 [accessed August 2016]' Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
    • B Missouri Botanical Garden
    Irish Vernacular Names
    https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plant-science/plant-science/research-staff/article/380/wyse-jackson-peter-s.aspx
    • C All Rights Reserved
    Orchidaceae
    https://powo.science.kew.org/
    World Flora Online Data. 2022.
    • D CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0).
    Vahliaceae
    http://www.worldfloraonline.org/organisation/Vahliaceae
    World Flora Online Data. 2021.
    • E CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0).