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

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1980, Flora Europaea. Volume 5. Alismataceae to Orchidaceae (Monocotyledones), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 331

1. P. bifolia (L.) L. C. M. Richard , Orchid. Eur. Annot. 35 (1817)

( Orchis bifolia L. ).

Tubers 2, more or less conical, attenuate 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, occasionally 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. In = 42. Open woods, meadows and damp heaths. Almost throughout Europe, but rarer in the Mediterranean region. All except Az Cr Is Rs (K) Sb.