Greater butterfly-orchid
ExplorePlants
Greater butterfly-orchid
Platanthera chlorantha
The Greater butterfly-orchid is a beautiful flower that looks like a tiny butterfly! It grows in grassy places and has lovely greenish-white petals that attract many insects.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Greater butterfly-orchid has a tall, slender stem topped with a spike of greenish-white or yellowish-white flowers. Its broad, glossy green basal leaves emerge from the base. Each flower features a distinctive, long, downward-pointing spur, differentiating it from similar orchids.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAsparagalesFamilyOrchidaceaeGenusPlatanthera
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It can live for many years, patiently waiting for the perfect conditions to bloom.
Its scientific name, Platanthera, means 'flat anther,' describing its unique pollen sacs!
Look closely! Its flowers have a long 'tail' called a spur where nectar collects for moths!
This orchid relies on a tiny, hidden fungus to help it grow its first root underground!
Special abilities
Ability
Nectar Beacon
Greater butterfly-orchid has a super-long spur to offer nectar, luring long-tongued moths that help it reproduce.
Ability
Night Perfume
Greater butterfly-orchid releases a sweet fragrance at dusk, attracting nocturnal hawk-moths for pollination.
Ability
Pollen Delivery System
Greater butterfly-orchid has sticky pollen masses (pollinia) perfectly placed to attach to a moth's head, ensuring pollen transfer.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-70 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to mid-summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Hummingbird Hawk-moth
Macroglossum stellatarum
collects nectar and pollen
pollinates
Elephant Hawk-moth
Deilephila elpenor
attracted to its sweet evening scent
symbiotic with
A Tulasnella fungus
Tulasnella calospora
provides vital nutrients to the orchid seedling
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Ornamental
Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Endangered
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Don't pick flowers; they are best enjoyed in nature!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Greater butterfly-orchid?
30-70 cm
How big are the flowers on Greater butterfly-orchid?
1-2 cm
When does Greater butterfly-orchid bloom?
Late spring to mid-summer
Is Greater butterfly-orchid edible?
No
Is Greater butterfly-orchid toxic?
None
What is Greater butterfly-orchid's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Greater butterfly-orchid pollinated?
Insect
Where is Greater butterfly-orchid usually found?
Grasslands
Snap Map
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