Platanthera micrantha, (Hochst.) Schlechter, 1920, 1920

D. M. Moore (ed.), 1980, CCIII Orchidaceae, Flora Europaea, Vol 5: Alismataceae to Orchidaceae, Camebridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 325-350 : 331

3. P. micrantha (Höchst.) Schlechter ,

Feddes Repert. 16: 378 (1920).

Tubers 2, ovoid-ellipsoid. Plant 20-50 cm. Lowest 2 leaves 6—15(—17) x 2-6-5 cm, oblanceolate-oblong to elliptical, usually one distinctly above the other but rarely subopposite; above them 2-6 much smaller leaves passing into the bracts. Spike 8-13 cm; flowers green. Perianth-segments 2-4 mm. Labellum 2-4 mm, narrowly oblong to oblong-elliptical, hori­ zontal. Spur 2-5-8 mm, obtuse, as long as ovary.

Mountain grassland.

9 Açores. Az.

Variable, especially in length of spur; in most plants this is 2-3-5 mm, but in some it is 5-8 mm. The long-spurred variants have been distinguished as P. azorica Schlechter , loc. cit. (1920) ( Habenaria longibracteata Höchst. ), but as variation in other characters shows little correlation and as there is no clear geographical or ecological separation, they are best treated as a variety of 3.