Platanthera bifolia, (L.) L. C. M. Richard, 1817, 1817

D. M. Moore (ed.), 1980, CCIII Orchidaceae, Flora Europaea, Vol 5: Alismataceae to Orchidaceae, Camebridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 325-350 : 331

1. P. bifolia (L.) L. C. M. Richard,

Orchid. Eur. Annot. 35 (1817) ( Orchis bifolia L.).

Tubers 2, more or less conical, attenu­ ate at apex. Plant 25-50 cm. Foliage-leaves 2, 7-16 x 2-5-8 cm, basal, subopposite, oblanceolate-oblong to obovate or broadly elliptical. Cauline leaves 2-5; lamina usually 1 -3 cm, occasion­ ally larger but always much narrower than that of basal leaves. Spike up to 20 cm; flowers white, slightly tinged with green, fragrant. Perianth-segments of the galea 5-7 mm; outer lateral segments 8-10 mm. Labellum 8-12 mm, linear-oblong, pendent. Spur 25-30 mm, slender, subulate, more or less horizontal, much longer than ovary. Anther-cells parallel, almost contiguous. 2n=42.

Open woods, meadows and damp heaths.

Almost through­ out Europe, but rarer in the Mediterranean region. All except Az Cr Is Rs (K) Sb.