Platanthera azorica Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 16: 378 (1920).
Homotypic Names:
Habenaria longebracteata Hochst. ex Seub., Fl. Azor.: 25 (1840).
Platanthera micrantha var. longebracteata (Hochst. ex Seub.) Soó, Arch. Bot. (Leipzig) 23: 104 (1928).
Limnorchis longebracteata (Hochst. ex Seub.) Efimov, Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 40: 50 (2008 publ. 2009).
Description:
Tubers broadly fusiform, narrowing to a single, long, fleshy apical root; a further 2–4 roots emerge horizontally from the base of the stem; old and new tubers separated by a substantial stolon 30–50% the length of the tuber. Stem 20 ± 10 cm, 3.8 ± 2.0 mm in diameter. Sheathing leaves usually 2, occasionally 1, largest 111 ± 64 mm × 40 ± 24 mm, broadly ovate/obovate, spreading and lacking an elongate petiole; bracteoidal leaves 1.8 ± 1.4, usually distributed fairly evenly along stem and grading into basal bracts. Inflorescence 85 ± 46 mm, 18± 11 flowers (4.7 ± 2.8 fls/cm). Basal bracts 28 ± 17 mm, floral bracts 18 ± 7 mm × 5.4 ± 1.8 mm, lanceolate; marginal cells rounded, 51 ± 16 µm in longitudinal diameter. Flowers uniformly agathia green (RHS 142B, C in natural light, 140A–144D in artificial flash); median sepal forms an operculum over the lateral petals, which project directly forward, together forming an ‘awning’ above the gynostemium. Labellum occasionally paler toward spur entrance, entire, 8.3 ± 2.0 × 2.4 ± 0.5 mm, linear-lanceolate, recurved moderately to strongly backward and also curved gently to moderately backward. Spur 9.5 ± 1.8 mm long × 1.4 ± 1.1 mm in diameter at mouth, 1.1 ± 0.5 mm midway along its length, strongly or occasionally moderately down-curved; spur entrance ± equidimensional rather than compressed vertically. Ovary 14.0 ± 2.8 mm. Lateral sepals oriented closer to horizontal than vertical, 8.2 ± 1.8 × 3.6 ± 0.9 mm. Lateral petals 5.7 ± 1.7 mm. Gynostemium 3.2 ± 1.0 mm long × 3.5 ± 0.8 mm wide; stigma immediately above spur entrance, a horizontally elongate crescent, 2.7 ± 1.0 mm wide; rostellum a subdued, elongate crescent; auricles lateral to, and largely fused with, remainder of gynostemium, comparatively large, 0.8 ± 0.9 mm. Anther locules linked by a wide, well-developed connective, robust, locule aperture sigmoid, relatively taut; paired pollinaria 2.5 ± 1.1 mm, slightly to moderately convergent from viscidium to pollinium apex, viscidia separated by 3.1 ± 0.7 mm, apices of pollinaria by 2.2 ± 0.6 mm; viscidia ± opposed, orbicular, obscurely bipartite; caudicle proximally geniculate, terete, ± equalling the pale yellow pollinium; pollinium bears several vertical rows of massulae. Fragrance comparatively subtle, of musk and spice.
Habitat:
Alpine grassland and open, dwarfed laurisilva scrub at ca 950–1000 m asl.
Distribution:
Azores (São Jorge)
References:
Systematic revision of Platanthera in the Azorean archipelago: not one but three species, including arguably Europe’s rarest orchid by Richard M. Bateman,corresponding author Paula J. Rudall,1 and Mónica Moura

Platanthera micrantha (Hochst. ex Seub.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 16: 378 (1920).
Homotypic Names:
Habenaria micrantha Hochst. ex Seub., Fl. Azor.: 25 (1840).
Description:
Narrow-lipped Butterfly-orchid: Tubers broadly fusiform, narrowing to a single, long, fleshy apical root; a further 2–4 roots emerge horizontally from the base of the stem; old and new tubers separated by a substantial stolon 30–50% the length of the tuber. Stem 32 ± 18cm, 3.7 ± 2.4 mm in diameter. Sheathing leaves often 2, occasionally 3, largest 125 ± 73 mm × 54 ± 31 mm, broadly ovate/obovate, spreading and lacking an elongate petiole; bracteoidal leaves 3.3 ± 2.6, usually distributed fairly evenly along stem and grading into basal bracts. Inflorescence 109 ± 80 mm, 60 ± 60 flowers (18 ± 16 fls/cm). Basal bracts 21 ± 27 mm, floral bracts 13 ± 6 mm × 4.9 ± 2.0 mm, lanceolate; marginal cells rounded, 47 ± 16 µm in longitudinal diameter. Flowers pea green to agathia green (RHS 142D–149D in natural light, 144D in artificial flash); median sepal ± horizontal and lateral petals torsioned inwards to arch over gynostemium. Labellum often paler towards spur entrance, entire, 4.6 ± 1.6 × 1.6 ± 0.6 mm, linear-lanceolate, projecting clearly forwards but also curved moderately to strongly forwards, obscuring spur entrance. Spur 7.3 ± 1.9 mm long × 0.8 ± 0.5 mm in diameter at mouth, 0.9 ± 0.3 mm midway along its length, usually strongly down-curved; spur entrance strongly compressed vertically. Ovary 11.9 ± 3.5 mm. Lateral sepals oriented closer to vertical than horizontal, 4.9 ± 1.4 × 2.8 ± 0.9 mm. Lateral petals 3.2 ± 0.9 mm. Gynostemium 1.5 ± 0.5 mm long × 1.5 ± 0.5 mm wide; stigma immediately above spur entrance, a horizontally elongate oblong, at most 1.2 ± 0.4 mm wide; rostellum a subdued, near-horizontal ledge; auricles lateral to, and largely fused with, remainder of gynostemium, small to almost absent, 0.5 ± 0.4 mm. Anther locules linked by a narrow, well-developed connective, locule aperture ± linear, relaxed; paired pollinaria 1.2 ± 0.3 mm, slightly to moderately convergent from viscidium to pollinium apex, viscidia separated by 1.0 ± 0.4 mm, apices of pollinaria by 0.6 ± 0.3 mm; viscidia pendent, angled inwards but not opposed, strongly ellipsoidal and concave, clearly bipartite; caudicle near-linear, strap-like, much shorter than the pale yellow pollinium; pollinium bears few vertical rows of massulae. Fragrance combines Freesia and Citrus.
Habitat:
Largely confined to, and a good indicator of, laurisilva scrub and adjacent rough grassland; 300–900(–1100) m asl.
Distribution:
Azores
References:
Systematic revision of Platanthera in the Azorean archipelago: not one but three species, including arguably Europe’s rarest orchid by Richard M. Bateman,corresponding author Paula J. Rudall,1 and Mónica Moura

Platanthera algeriensis Batt. & Trab., Bull. Soc. Bot. France 39: 75 (1892).
Homotypic Names:
Platanthera chlorantha subsp. algeriensis (Batt. & Trab.) Emb., Mat. Fl. Maroc.: 488 (1935).
Description:
Generally 25-40 cm tall with leaves (less rounded than Platanthera chlorantha) almost clasping the stem, although this may be due to the fact that they grew in dense clumps of sedge. The flowers similar in size and shape to Platanthera chlorantha but an intense, almost translucent green rather than the greeny-white of the latter.
Habitat:
It grows in acidic conditions, such as marsh, damp meadows and pasture.
Distribution:
E. & SE Spain, Corse, Sardegna, NW. Africa
References:
Bulletin de la Société botanique de France. 1892

Platanthera bifolia (L.) Rich., De Orchid. Eur.: 35 (1817).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Orchis bifolia L., Sp. Pl.: 939 (1753).
Orchis alba Lam., Fl. Franç., ed. 2, 3: 502 (1795), nom. superfl.
Lysias bifolia (L.) Salisb., Trans. Hort. Soc. London 1: 288 (1812).
Habenaria bifolia (L.) R.Br. in W.T.Aiton, Hortus Kew. 5: 193 (1813).
Sieberia bifolia (L.) Spreng., Anleit. Kenntn. Gew., ed. 2, 2(1): 282 (1817).
Satyrium bifolium (L.) Wahlenb., Fl. Suec. 2: 579 (1826).
Gymnadenia bifolia (L.) G.Mey., Chloris Han.: 540 (1836).
Conopsidium stenantherum Wallr., Linnaea 14: 147 (1840), nom. superfl.
Orchis stenanthera E.H.L.Krause in J.Sturm, Deutschl. Fl. Abbild., ed. 2, 4: 52 (1905), nom. superfl.
Description:
Plants 28-42 cm tall. Rootstock tuberous, ovoid-fusiform, tapering at base, 2.5-3 × 0.8-1.4 cm. Stem erect, with 1 or 2 tubular sheaths at base, 2-leaved. Leaves basal, subopposite, spatulate-elliptic, oblong, or elliptic, 9-12 × 1.8-3.5 cm, gradually contracted at base, apex obtuse. Peduncle slender to robust, with 2-4 scattered, lanceolate bracts; rachis 9-19 cm, laxly to subdensely 7-17-flowered; floral bracts lanceolate, 15-20 mm, basal ones exceeding ovary. Flowers fragrant, white, greenish white, or green; pedicel and ovary arcuate, cylindric, 14-15 mm. Dorsal sepal erect and forming a hood with petals, ovate to broadly ovate, cymbiform, 5.5-6 × 4-4.5 mm, glabrous, apex obtuse; lateral sepals spreading, ovate-lanceolate, oblique, 6-7 × 3.5-4 mm, glabrous, apex subacute. Petals linear-lanceolate, oblique, 5.5-6 × ca. 1 mm, apex acute; lip spreading, ligulate, 9-10 × 1-1.5 mm, thickened, entire, apex obtuse; spur pendulous, cylindric, slender, 20-25 × 1.5-1.8 mm, apex subacute. Column stout; staminodes conspicuous; anther locules slightly divergent; pollinia ellipsoid, with long caudicles and suborbicular viscidia; rostellum belt-shaped; stigma lobes confluent, concave, lying directly below rostellum.
Habitat:
Forests on slopes, damp meadows; 200-2800 m..
Flower time:
Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep.
Note:
The Chinese plants do not differ significantly from the widespread Eurasian Platanthera bifolia. Its sister and equally widespread species, P. chlorantha, is also found in China. The distinctness of P. metabifolia, originally described from Japan, is questionable once the full range of variation in P. bifolia is considered.
Distribution:
Europe, Medit. to Mongolia
References:
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Images:
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Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ
Photograph© Rogier van Vugt. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Rogier van Vugt. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Rogier van Vugt. Image used with kind permission.