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Glite Dictionary
Habenaria bifolia

Habenaria bifolia

9.9
A small orchid from southern Europe with pale green and white flowers that smell sweet
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Habenaria bifolia
  • The rare Habenaria bifolia blooms in the meadows of southern Europe each spring.

Examples

  • The Habenaria bifolia blooms in the spring.

  • Have you seen a Habenaria bifolia in the wild?

  • Botanists studied the fragrance profile of Habenaria bifolia for potential horticultural uses.

  • Some scientists debate whether Habenaria bifolia belongs in the genus Habenaria or a separate one.

  • The rare Habenaria bifolia blooms in the meadows of southern Europe each spring.

  • Some scientists debate whether Habenaria bifolia belongs in the genus Habenaria or a separate one.

  • Botanists studied the fragrance profile of Habenaria bifolia for potential horticultural uses.

Synonyms

lesser butterfly orchid
vsHabenaria bifolia
  • UK
9.9

A small southern European orchid with pale green and white flowers that smell sweet

is the scientific name sometimes classified in a different genus
Platanthera bifolia
vsHabenaria bifolia
  • Specialized
9.9

A small European orchid with fragrant pale greenish-white flowers

is sometimes classified in a different genus instead of that usual placement

Surface Forms

Habenaria bifolia singular
Habenaria bifolias plural

Morphology

Habenaria + bifolia

The binomial is compositionally predictable: it combines the genus name Habenaria (a type of terrestrial orchid) with a specific epithet that likely describes a feature (bifolia = ‘two‑leaved’). However, the epithet is Latin and absent from the provided dictionary entry, and taxonomic Latin is specialized, so a typical B1 learner would only derive the precise meaning if they already knew the Latin/technical epithet, making it only partially transparent.

Etymology

Habenaria bifolia may come from Latin words: Habenaria from a word for a 'strap' and bifolia meaning 'two leaves'. The flowers have long strap-like parts and the plant usually has two main leaves, so the name gives a simple picture to help you remember this orchid.