BUTTERFLY ORCHID

any plant of the genus Platanthera (or Habenaria), family Orchidaceae, which has about 100 species native to Eurasia, North Africa, and North and Central America. Butterfly orchid also is the common name for a species of the genus Oncidium (q.v.). The white-flowered lesser butterfly orchid (P. bifolia) and the greater butterfly orchid (P. chlorantha), with larger, greenish white flowers, are well-known species. Both have 5 to 15 pleasantly scented flowers arranged on a single spike.