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Inflorescence wheatear-like. Lip with spur and usually entire. Ginostemium short, with wide small beak, without appendages. Single stamen with a wide konektiv. Stamen pockets vertical filaments, form a right angle with handles of polonium. Spur 1.5 - 2 times longer than the ovary. Plants with cylindrical, entire or in peak splitted tubers.

1  The small pockets of polonium parallel to each other. The blossoms white, highly luscious........ ...................................................................................................................................... 1. Lesser butterfly-orchid  - P. bifolia Rchb.(L.) Rchb.
1* The small pockets of polonium angled, spaced downward. Greenish-white blossoms, almost odorless .................................................................................................................................... 2. Greater butterfy-orchid - P. chlorantha (Cust.) Rchb.
"Флора на НР България", том II, БАН, София, (1964),

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The genus Platanthera belongs to the subfamily Orchidoideae of the family Orchidaceae, and comprises about 100 species of orchids. The members of this genus, known as the butterfly orchids[3][4] or fringed orchids,[5] were previously included in the genus Orchis, which is a close relative (along with the genus Habenaria). They are distributed throughout the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They are terrestrial and have tubercules.

Description and Habitat

Species of Platanthera are perennial terrestrial herbs, erect in habit. The roots are fasciculate and typically fleshy and slender, although they may be somewhat tuberous; if tuberous they are lanceolate to fusiform and not ovoid. The leaves are generally fleshy and range from oblong or ovoid to lanceolate. Leaf shape often varies with the lower leaves more ovoid in shape, progressively becoming more lanceolate as they progress up the scape; floral bracts, if present, are lanceolate to linear. The base of the leaves typically sheathes the stem. The inflorescence is terminal and solitary, and the flowers form a cylindrical spike that ranges from sparse to dense. The flowers are typically resupinate, and often showy and colorful. The petals and labellum are typically entire, but in a number of North American species they may be fringed or edentate; in this group of species the labellum is also often deeply lobed or auricuate. The seed capsules are cylindrical and ridged.
These terrestrial orchids develop in a wide range of soil types and habitats, from strongly basic soils to deeply acidic bog soils, from forest openings and in clearings within the forest to open tundra. In all cases they require moist soils and are not found in dry or desert locations. While their fleshy tuberculous roots can store water, allowing them to survive temporary drought, they cannot survived extended drought.
Platanthera may be distinguished from Orchis and Habenaria by the absence of stigmatic processes, and the absence of ovoid roots.
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