How do I tell the difference between a lesser butterfly orchid and a greater butterfly orchid?
-
by
Abe_Hoekstra
Any help would be appreciated 😃.
Posted
-
by
kathcas79
scientist
These species are very similar in general appearance, with the lesser butterfly generally smaller and with fewer and smaller flowers, although this is difficult to distinguish in photographs without a scale! The most helpful identifier is probably to look at the pollen-bearing structures (pollinia) - see our ID guide pages 32/33 which shows some good images of these – in the greater butterfly orchid these structures are held more widely apart and slant inwards from the base; in the lesser butterfly these are closer together and held in a more parallel position. Quite a few of our field recorders of butterfly orchids have captured great images which do show the position of the pollinia, making ID easier between these species!
Posted
-
by
Abe_Hoekstra
Thanks kathcas79 😃. I'll study the pages 😃.
Posted