Platanthera chlorantha

Greater Butterfly-orchid

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Common name

Greater Butterfly-orchid

Scientific name

Platanthera chlorantha (Custer) Rchb.

Conservation status and threats

NOT protected species in Bulgaria.

Description and identification

Herbaceous perennial plant. 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 40 cm 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^[1].

Habitat

Forests, shrubs and meadows^[2].

Distribution in Bulgaria

In the whole country, from 0 to 1200 meters above sea level^[3].

References

[1] Platanthera chlorantha - Greater Butterfly-orchid - First Nature.

[2] Стоянов Н., Б. Стефанов & Б. Китанов. 1966. Флора на България. Наука и изкуство. София.

[3] Assyov, B., A. Petrova, D. Dimitrov & R. Vassilev. 2012. Conspectus of the vascular flora of Bulgaria. Sofia, Bulgarian biodiversity foundation.

Platanthera chlorantha на български

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