Description
Lesser twayblade (Neottia cordata also Listera cordata) This is an orchid of acidic habitats, never very common but may be frequently overlooked because of its small size and a tendency to grow underneath heather growing rooted in sphagnum moss and also on mossy woodland floors in conifer woods. It rarely exceeds 15cm in height (with taller stems in woodlands) and has a slender creeping rhizome (heavily infected with mycorrhizal fungus which provided a large part off its nutrition).
The small flowers (about 2-3mm)) which look deceptively simple in structure for an orchid, are purple-green in colour with a somewhat swollen calyx and flowers persist long after fertilisation. The flowers produce nectar and are pollinated principally by fungus gnats
The single erect flower-stem is often tinged red and is clasped near the base by a pair or ovate-orbicular glossy green leaves...they are roughly heart shaped (hence the specific name 'cordata'whereas 'twayblade' refers to two leaves which are remarkably like the pair of cotyledons produced by beech seeds after germination germinating.
It was formerly placed in the genus Listera along with the far commoner Twayblade (Neottia ovata) but molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that Neottia nidus-avis, the Bird's-nest Orchid, evolved within the same group.
It has a circumpolar distribution being found in Europe, Asia, Greenland and large parts of North America (where there are several other Neottia/Listra species) . In the United Kingdom its distribution is western and northern becoming most common in the western highlands and is also found in Snowdonia and the Lake District.
In Italy it is a rare species of Mountain woodlands (often spruce). Abetone, Emilia Romagna, Italy June 2021.
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