Neottia cordata

Neottia cordata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Genus:	Neottia
Species:	N. cordata
Binomial name
	Neottia cordata; (L.) Rich.
Synonyms
	Listera cordata (L.) R.Br.; Ophrys cordata L.; Epipactis cordata (L.) All.; Helleborine cordata (L.) F.W.Schmidt; Cymbidium cordatum (L.) Londes; Serapias cordata (L.) Steud.; Distomaea cordata (L.) Spenn.; Pollinirhiza cordata (L.) Dulac; Diphryllum cordatum (L.) Kuntze; Listera nephrophylla Rydb.; Ophrys nephrophylla (Rydb.) Rydb.; Neottia nephrophylla (Rydb.) Szlach.; also several names at the form and variety levels;

Neottia cordata, the lesser twayblade^[2] or heartleaf twayblade,^[3] is an orchid of upland bogs and mires that rarely exceeds 15 cm (5.9 in) in height. It was formerly placed in the genus Listera, but molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that Neottia nidus-avis, the bird's-nest orchid, evolved within the same group.^[4]

It is never very common but may be frequently overlooked because of its small size and a tendency to grow underneath heather on sphagnum moss. The single erect flower-stem is often tinged red and is clasped near the base by a pair or ovate-orbicular glossy green leaves. The small flowers which look deceptively simple in structure for an orchid, are purple-green in colour with a somewhat swollen calyx.

Distribution

It has a circumpolar distribution being found in Europe, Asia and large parts of North America. In the United Kingdom its distribution is largely western and northern, becoming most common in the western Highlands of Scotland, Snowdonia in Wales, and the Lake District in England.^[5] (Codes) ^[6]