NEOTTIA OVATA

Family and Genus:- See- ORCHIDACEAE

Common Names:- Greater twayblade, Common twayblade

Homotypic Synonyms:- Bifolium ovatum, Diphryllum ovatum, Distomaea

ovata, Epipactis ovata, Helleborine ovata, Listera ovata, Malaxis ovata,

Ophrys ovata, Pollinirhiza ovata, Serapias ovata

Meaning:- Neottia (Gr) Nest-of-fledglings (the roots resembling a birds nest).

Ovata (L) Egg-shaped.

General description:- Short to medium perennial.

Stem:-

1) 20-60 cm, erect, glabrous, below, pubescent, above, with 2-3 brownish,

membranous basal sheaths.

Leaves:-

1) Two rarely more, 5-20 cm, almost opposite, broad-oval, deep green, ribbed.

Flower:-

1) Raceme, 7-25 cm; flowers numerous, shortly pedicellate

2) Bracts, minute, ovate-lanceolate.

3) Perianth-segments 4-5 mm;

a) outer, ovate, obtuse, green.

b) inner, narrowly oblong, yellowish-green.

4) Labellum, c. 10 mm, downward-directed, narrowly obtriangular, flat, divided to 1/3

into 2 oblong lobes.

5) Spur, absent.

Key features:-

1) Leaves, 5-20 cm.

2) Raceme, 7-25 cm, many-flowered.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Damp shady places by streams, often in deciduous woodland. (0-)300-

1100 m.

Distribution:- Almost throughout Europe, but less common in the south. On Crete

confined to a few damp valleys in western Crete, and the Dikti massif.

Flowering time:- May to early July.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis