- Listera ovata (L.) R.Br. - Common Twayblade - Orchidaceae
© Robert Thompson
© Robert Thompson
© Robert Thompson
(Map updated: March 2008)
Common Twayblade (Listera ovata) is a fairly common wild orchid which gets its English name from its having, normally, only two large oval leaves. The underground part of the plant is a short thick creeping rhizome from which grows the above-ground portion. The flowers are green or brownish-green with a very obvious forked lower lip hanging down from the flower. These flowers are arranged in a loose spike which varies enormously in length and number of individual flowers. It grows mostly in grassland, open woods or amongst bracken.
All names: Listera ovata (L.) R.Br.
NBN Atlas mapping: Species account : NBN Atlas UK Species Observations database
iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database