Platanthera chlorantha

[fredg]

Platanthera chlorantha, a UK native , commonly known as the Greater Butterfly Orchid.

Commonly found on well-drained, calcareous soils, on downland, old pastures, hill hay meadows, woodland such as that on the heavier soils below chalk hills, and occasionally in calcareous sand dunes. Rarely found on slightly acid moorland.

Platanthera chlorantha

[jeff]

rather Platanthera chlorantha no

jeff

[fredg]

Jeff,

I bought these a few years ago as Platanthera bifolia and had no reason to question identity.
This is the first year of flowering.
Your query prompted me to take a rethink and I believe you are correct.
For P. bifolia the pollinia are close together and parallel and for P. chlorantha much as they are in the photo.
The other differences are comparative so they don't really help when I have only one of the species.
I'll obtain a third opinion and change the names if/when confirmed.

Edit.
The third opinion confirms yours Jeff, well spotted ;D
Names changed accordingly to Platanthera chlorantha

[fredg]

This year's offering.



One of those plants it's worth get up close to.