Butterfly Orchids
What are they?
This is a small group of rather distinctive, ivory-coloured or slightly greenish, terrestrial orchids. Compared with other orchids in the region, these species have rather open spikes of well-spaced, spidery flowers that have long-narrow petals and sepals and a very long nectar spur at the back of the flower.
Where are they found?
These plants occur in a variety of habitats but most often favour grassy clearings or rides in woodland, or damp grassland in fens and bogs. Woodland species tend to do best in managed sites that are coppiced periodically, providing open clearings.
Identification
The two species are rather similar and are best told apart by the position of the pollen-bearing pollinia, which may be held parallel to each other or converging towards their tips.
Greater Butterfly Orchid Platanthera chlorantha
Native in well-managed woodland on boulder clay soils from central Norfolk south and westward. Flowers May to July. A showy species, with flower spikes 20-60cm in height. Best told from Lesser Butterfly Orchid by the two pollinia (pollen grain masses) that are widest apart from each other at the base and converge slightly towards their tips.
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Lesser Butterfly Orchid Platanthera bifolia
Native of damp and grassy places. Extremely rare in East Anglia and possibly now only occurs at a single site in North Norfolk. Flowers May to July. A showy species, with flower spikes 15-30cm in height. Best told from Greater Butterfly Orchid by the two pollinia (pollen grain masses) that are parallel to each other and do not converge towards their tips.
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