Lesser Butterfly-orchid

Description:

Little angel or ghost? This beautiful orchid blooms in the heart of summer and produces scent at night to attract moths pollinators (Pine, Small Elephant and Elephant Hawk-moths). There are around 25 white flowers tinged with yellow-green in each spike, and the plan generally has two broad basal leaves.

Habitat:

Spotted in the shade on rich soil in mixed woods, alt. 1300m ASL.

Notes:

Platanthera bifolia can be confused Platanthera chlorantha, the Greater Butterfly orchid. The latter one produces different chemical which attracts different pollinators. See the link below for the difference with Platanthera chlorantha: http://orchidees-sauvages.pixiflore.com/...