Irish wildflowers BSBI map

Lesser Butterfly-orchid, Platanthera bifolia, Magairlín beag an fhéileacáin
The Burren, Co. Clare. © Patrick Slavin

Lesser Butterfly-orchid
Platanthera bifolia
Magairlín beag an fhéileacáin
Family: Orchidaceae

Flowering: June-July. Tuberous perennial. Native.

Nght-scented, greenish white flowers, the spur longer than the ovary and the pollinia close together and parallel. The lip is unlobed and narrow linear-oblong. There are two oval-elliptical basal leaves and smaller stem leaves. Height to 30cm.

Widespread but decreasing on acidic and calcareous soils in grassland, scrub, dunes, woodland and heaths, acidic bogs and calcareous fens

Similar: Greater Butterfly-orchid, P. chlorantha. Pollinia diverging

Lesser Butterfly-orchid, Platanthera bifolia, Magairlín beag an fhéileacáin
Lesser Butterfly-orchid, Platanthera bifolia, Magairlín beag an fhéileacáin

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