Platanthera minor (Miq.) Rchb.f. 1878 Photos by © Hisanori Takeuchi and his Orchids of the World Website
Plant and Flowers in situ in Japan Photos courtesy of Natsui
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LATER
EARLY
Common Name The Lesser Platanthera - In Japan - Obano-tomboso [Broad leafed dragonfly weed] or Noyama-no-tonbo-sou [Wild dragonfly weed] - English common name - Green Cap orchid - In China Xiao She Chun Lan
Flower Size 1/4" [4-5 mm]
Found from southeastern China, Korea, central and southern Japan and Taiwan in forests on slopes and alpine meadows at elevations of 300-3000 meters as a medium to large sized, cool to cold growing terrestrial species with a 1 to 2' [30 to 60 cm] long stem carrying several alternate, lanceolate, basally clasping leaves that blooms in the later spring and early summer on an erect, 4 to 6" long, several to 20 flowered, racemose inflorescence with 2 to 5, foliaceous, lanceolate bracts ad ovate-lanceolate, basal ones exceeding the flowers in length, acuminate apically floral bracts.
Synonyms *Habenaria japonica var. minor Miq. 1865-6
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of Southern Ryukyu Islands Garay & Sweet 1974; The Wild Orchids of China Tsi, Chen & Mori 1997; Native Orchids From Gaoligongshan Mountains, China Xiaohua, Xiaodong and Xiaochun 2009 photo fide; Flora of China Vol 25 Zhengyi, Raven & Deyuan 2009; Flora of China Vol 25 Illustrations Zhengyi, Raven & Deyuan 2010 drawing ok
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