# Three-toothed orchid (*Neotinea tridentata*)

The Three-toothed orchid is a beautiful flower that has three tiny teeth-like parts on its lip. It blooms in spring and is a special sight in meadows and grasslands.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Three-toothed orchid](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dreiz%C3%A4hniges_Knabenkraut_in_Wacholderheide.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Kookaburra91156, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dreiz%C3%A4hniges_Knabenkraut_in_Wacholderheide.jpg)

## Appearance

The Three-toothed orchid has a slender stem topped with a dense cluster of small, pale pink to reddish-purple flowers. Each tiny bloom features a distinctive three-lobed lip, with the central lobe ending in three prominent 'teeth' or points. The leaves are broad and glossy green, usually forming a basal rosette.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Asparagales
- **Family:** Orchidaceae
- **Genus:** Neotinea

## Interesting facts

- Its seeds are tinier than dust, so light they travel far on the slightest breeze!
- The 'three-teeth' on its flower lip give it its unique scientific name, 'tridentata'!
- This clever orchid often tricks bees into visiting its flowers without offering any sweet nectar!
- You might spot its green leaves growing in autumn, staying visible through winter's chill!

## Special abilities

- **Underground Powerhouse:** Three-toothed orchid has underground tubers that store nutrients, helping it survive harsh conditions and regrow each year.
- **Tricky Attraction:** Three-toothed orchid uses specific flower shapes and patterns to mimic nectar-rich plants, attracting pollinators without offering a reward.
- **Fungal Friend:** Three-toothed orchid forms a hidden partnership with soil fungi to get vital nutrients, especially during its early growth.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-40 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Transfers pollen between its flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits flowers, aiding reproduction.
- **Pollinates:** Ashy mining bee (*Andrena cineraria*) — Carries pollen while foraging.

## Traits

- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't pick flowers. They are best enjoyed in nature!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Three-toothed orchid?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Three-toothed orchid?

10-40 cm

### How big are the flowers on Three-toothed orchid?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Three-toothed orchid bloom?

Spring to early summer

### Is Three-toothed orchid edible?

No

### Is Three-toothed orchid toxic?

None

### What is Three-toothed orchid's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is Three-toothed orchid pollinated?

Insect

## Where to spot

- [Geo-Naturpark Frau-Holle-Land](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/geo-naturpark-frau-holle-land) — Hessen, DE · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Three-toothed orchid: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/three-toothed-orchid)