Platanthera bifolia
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| Lesser butterfly-orchid | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Genus: | Platanthera |
| Species: | P. bifolia
|
| Binomial name | |
| Platanthera bifolia (
L.C.Rich. | |
| Synonyms | |
Platanthera bifolia, commonly known as the lesser butterfly-orchid,anthers', while the species name, bifolia, means 'two leaves'.
Identification
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Lesser butterfly-orchids are not to be confused with the
greater butterfly-orchid, which are about the same size. Lesser butterfly-orchids are distinguished by their two shining green basal leaves, especially of the hill form, which are shorter and broader and by the angle of the pollinia. The upper sepal and petals form a loose triangular hood above the pollinia, which lie parallel and close together, obscuring the opening into the spur, which is long and almost straight. There are usually around 25 white flowers tinged with yellow-green in a slim flower spike. The flowers are night-scented
, but the chemical components of the scent are different from those of greater butterfly-orchid and attract different pollinators.
Hybrids
Hybrids of the two butterfly-orchids are rare, as are those between lesser butterfly-orchid and other species. However, hybrids have been recorded with
heath spotted-orchid
.
Habitat
The lesser butterfly-orchid occupies a wide range of habitats, being far more tolerant of acid conditions than the
beech woods in southern England
), in hill pastures up to 400m, on heaths and moorland, and in tussocky marshy ground.
Pollination
pollinia, dislodging the sticky discs which adhere to it. Pollinators include pine, small elephant and, to a lesser extent, elephant
hawk-moths.
Conservation
This species has suffered a serious decline, especially in central and southern England, as a result of woodland clearance. Upland populations in the north and west have suffered from overgrazing.
References
- ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- ^ "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families".
- ^ "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families TDWG Geocodes" (PDF).
External links
Media related to Lesser butterfly-orchid (Platanthera bifolia) at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Lesser butterfly-orchid (Platanthera bifolia) at Wikispecies- "Platanthera bifolia" at the Encyclopedia of Life
- Den virtuella floran - Distribution
| Authority control databases: National |
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