Platanthera chlorantha

Greater butterfly orchid

Photographed NW Greece, 6 May 2001 

Negative number 01i11

The distinguishing feature of this orchid are the pollinia - Platanthera bifolia ( Lesser butterfly orchid) has pollinia that are close together and parallel. This is a Greek form which has a green tip to the labellum and sepals rather than the British form which is usually more white. It is possible that P. bifolia and P. chlorantha are epigenetic mutations of a single species.