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Lesser Butterfly-orchid

Platanthera bifolia

A close up of the unique flowers of the Lesser Butterfly Orchid - they have been likened to angels due their unusual shape.

How to Identify Lesser Butterfly-orchid

Annual/Perennial/BiennialSpring/Summer
Height15-30cm
Flower typeBifolia
Leaves2 at the bottom of the stem

 

A Lesser Butterfly Orchid is in front of the camera, with it's beautiful white and green flowers. In the background a wildflower meadow can be seen with two people crouching - one is looking closely at the flowers, while the other is taking notes.

How to Spot Lesser Butterfly-orchid?

The best time to see the Lesser Butterfly-orchid is spring into summertime with June to July being the peak flowering time.

Where to Spot Lesser Butterfly-orchid?

The Lesser Butterfly-orchid is a sweet-smelling plant, which grows across the UK. It can be found in a range of habitats, such as grasslands, meadows, bogs, woodlands, calcareous fens, and scrub, although it may be difficult to spot as it has declined in recent years.

Unfortunately, the Lesser Butterfly-orchid has been lost from much of its habitat in the UK, and is now endangered. One of the reasons for this decline is an increased use in agricultural chemicals which eradicate the soil fungi necessary for the plant to survive.

Carolyn Thomas MS, is currently working with us as a Species Champion to raise awareness of Lesser Butterfly-orchid and its causes of decline.

Find out more about Species and Nature Champions here.

A group of beautiful Lesser Butterfly Orchid flowers. The flowers are an unusual shape and white and green in colour.

Facts about Lesser Butterfly-orchid

  • Old folklore compares Lesser Butterfly-orchids to angels due to their colour, shape, sweet smell, and the way they shine in the twilight during the summer months.
  • The elephant hawk moth is the primary pollinator of the Lesser Butterfly-orchid.
  • These orchids have been used in traditional medicinal practices for gastro-intestinal soothing.

Other Species

Greater Butterfly-orchid
A greater butterfly orchid in a meadow

Greater Butterfly-orchid

Narrow-leaved Water-dropwort
A close up of the top of a Narrow-leaved Water-dropwort flower head, the pretty white petals stand out against a background of grasses

Narrow-leaved Water-dropwort