Which Ones Are Butterfly Orchids?
Which ones are Butterfly Orchids? Well, they all are. These very different plants have each been dubbed Butterfly Orchids, and that can be confusing. Common names vary, and that’s why scientific names are so important. With scientific names, everyone in the world can know they’re talking about the same plant. Common names are great for common use, and for avoiding long Latin words.
Butterfly Orchids may refer to the Psychopsis genus, like the row of photos above. Their large, showy flowers always impress. These spectacular warm-growers are Oncidium relatives.
Butterfly Orchids may also refer to the Sarcochilus orchids in the next two photos below. That’s their common name in their native home, Australia. Florida’s famous Ghost Orchid, in the final photo, is sometimes called a Butterfly Orchid as well.
Species in the large genus Platanthera, native to much of the Northern Hemisphere including the USA and Canada, are all nicknamed Butterfly Orchids. I’ve even heard people call Phals “Butterfly Orchids,” rather than their more popular name, Moth Orchids. Wikipedia’s list includes many more varieties sharing this same common name.
Explore posts in the same categories: Orchid Names, Photos
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